Illinois Supreme Court Rules in Favor of New Assault Weapon Ban

The Illinois Supreme Court reportedly voted in favor of a ban on AR-15s and other comparable rifles after Republicans attempted unsuccessfully to challenge the ordinance as unconstitutional.

In a close 4-3 decision, the court decided Illinois may impose sales restrictions on certain pistols, rifles like the AR-15, long gun magazines containing more than 10 rounds, and handgun magazines holding more than 15 rounds.

Democratic Judge Elizabeth Rochford, who delivered the majority opinion, said that the plaintiffs were attempting to “piggyback a second amendment claim” onto an equal protection defense, adding that it was impossible to establish that the legislation violates the second amendment given the preceding line of reasoning.

“This is a commonsense gun reform law to keep mass-killing machines off of our streets and out of our schools, malls, parks, and places of worship,” Pritzker said. “Illinoisans deserve to feel safe in every corner of our state — whether they are attending a Fourth of July Parade or heading to work — and that’s precisely what the Protect Illinois Communities Act accomplishes.” liberal Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement.

Pritzker was alluding to a shooting that occurred in Highland Park on July 4, 2022, leaving seven people dead and several more injured.

Previously, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would wait for an appeals court decision before hearing a challenge to the decision.