A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday to uphold the state of Illinois’ ban on semiautomatic weapons, effectively keeping the law in place. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturns a previous lower-court ruling that had declared the measure unconstitutional.
In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court determined that the Illinois law does not violate the Second Amendment. The court stated that the restrictions are consistent with the principles underpinning the nation’s tradition of firearm regulation, noting that the decision to adopt such measures rests with elected representatives.
The court’s majority opinion also addressed arguments from plaintiffs who suggested semiautomatic weapons were not responsible for mass shootings. The ruling cited an “undisputed record” showing that the presence of large-capacity magazines and assault-style weapons is strongly correlated with the severity of societal violence.
Democratic Governor JB Pritzker celebrated the ruling on X, describing it as a victory for public safety and the ongoing fight to reduce gun violence. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul also praised the decision, asserting that “weapons of war have no place in our communities” and highlighting the damage such firearms can inflict.
The legislation at the center of the dispute, the Protect Illinois Communities Act, was signed into law by Pritzker in 2023. It prohibits the sale and possession of AR-15 rifles, similar firearms, and high-capacity magazines. The law was enacted in the wake of a 2022 Highland Park parade shooting, where a gunman killed seven people and injured over three dozen others.
Following the 2023 enactment, the law faced immediate legal challenges from gun owners and sheriffs who refused to enforce it. In 2024, a federal judge overturned the ban, citing recent Supreme Court precedents regarding the Second Amendment. However, Attorney General Raoul filed an appeal that stayed the injunction.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, which challenged the ban, expressed disappointment with Thursday’s ruling and announced plans to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court. The group cited the dissent of Chief Judge Michael Brennan, who argued that the Second Amendment protects firearms commonly owned for self-defense, noting that many citizens have chosen the AR-15 as their weapon of choice.
The Supreme Court recently announced it would review whether bans on semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment. The high court is expected to hear arguments this fall regarding a separate Chicago-area ban that predates the statewide law.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, center, mingles ahead of the Obama Presidential Center dedication ceremony Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson,File)
