Federal Appeals Court Affirms Illinois Assault Weapons Ban
WHO:
CBS News - Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
CBS News - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a notice of appeal.
CBS News - The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the firearms industry trade association involved in the case.
CBS News - Chief Judge Michael Brennan dissented in the ruling.
WHAT:
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - The National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case following the appeals court decision.
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - The gun trade group expressed disappointment with the ruling and stated it agrees with Chief Judge Michael Brennan's dissent regarding the Second Amendment protections for commonly owned firearms.
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - The majority opinion of the appeals court stated, "Whether to adopt them is thus a decision reposed in our elected representatives, and we reverse."
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - The majority opinion also noted, "The undisputed record evidence undercuts that claim, showing that the presence of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is strongly correlated with the severity of the societal problem."
CBS News - A federal appeals court upheld an Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons.
CBS News - The Protect Illinois Communities Act prohibits the sale of more than 100 kinds of semiautomatic firearms and limits magazine capacities.
CBS News - The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 opinion that overturned a lower court ruling.
CBS News - The appeals court stated that the law is "consistent with our regulatory tradition" and does not violate the Second Amendment.
CBS News - The decision enhances public safety, according to Raoul.
CBS News - The National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
WHERE:
CBS News - The ruling pertains to a law in Illinois.
WHEN:
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear appeals challenging a ban in the Chicago area in the fall.
CBS News - The Protect Illinois Communities Act was passed and signed in January 2023.
CBS News - The injunction related to the ban was set to take effect 30 days after the judge's decision.
CBS News - The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a legal challenge to a similar Cook County law in the fall.
WHY:
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - Raoul emphasized the dangers of assault weapons, stating, "We have seen the damage that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines can inflict, and these weapons of war have no place in our communities."
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - Governor Pritzker described the decision as "a victory in the fight to end gun violence that helps keep our communities safe."
CBS News - The law was passed largely in response to the Highland Park parade mass shooting that killed seven people and injured 36.
CBS News - The appeals court opinion stated that the presence of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is strongly correlated with the severity of mass shootings.
HOW:
[10:18 PM EDT] - CBS News - The appeals court had previously overturned other lower court rulings against the ban that leaned on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that strictly interpret the Second Amendment right to keep and bear firearms.
CBS News - The appeals court reversed the lower court ruling based on the interpretation of the Second Amendment.
(UPDATED July 10, 2026 19:23 UTC)
The National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a recent appeals court decision, expressing disappointment with the ruling and aligning with Chief Judge Michael Brennan's dissent on Second Amendment protections for commonly owned firearms. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul highlighted the dangers of assault weapons, stating that these weapons of war have no place in our communities. The Supreme Court is expected to hear appeals challenging a ban in the Chicago area this fall.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 11:54 UTC)
In a significant ruling, an appeals court has reversed previous lower court decisions regarding a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, stating that the choice to adopt such measures lies with elected representatives. The majority opinion highlighted that evidence shows a strong correlation between the presence of these weapons and the severity of gun violence in society. Governor Pritzker hailed the decision as a victory in the ongoing fight to end gun violence and enhance community safety.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 10:07 UTC)
A federal appeals court has upheld an Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons, affirming the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which prohibits the sale of over 100 types of semiautomatic firearms and limits magazine capacities. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced plans to enhance public safety following the ruling, while the National Shooting Sports Foundation intends to seek a review from the U.S. Supreme Court. The law was enacted in response to the tragic Highland Park parade shooting, with the appeals court stating that the presence of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is closely linked to the severity of mass shootings.