Appeals court upholds Illinois assault weapons ban

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure earlier this year.

By Ben Whedon

Published: November 3, 2023 8:17pm

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday upheld Illinois' ban on assault weapons, marking the latest win for the state's law as it faces a litany of legal challenges.

The state Supreme Court previously upheld the law while the U.S. Supreme Court in May declined to take up the case on procedural grounds. Friday's ruling could see the case return to the top bench.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act bars the sale of certain semi-automatic "assault weapons." Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure earlier this year.

"Government may punish a deliberately false fire alarm; it may condition free assembly on the issuance of a permit; it may require voters to present a valid identification card; and it may punish child abuse even if it is done in the name of religion. The right enshrined in the Second Amendment is no different," wrote Judge Diane Wood in upholding the ban, according to The Hill.

Pritzker celebrated the ruling, saying "[t]he 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed what gun safety advocates have said from day one—the Protect Illinois Communities Act is a commonsense law that will keep Illinoisians safe."

The ban will likely next return to the Supreme Court, where a conservative majority last year handed down a significant Second Amendment ruling last year by ruling unconstitutional a New York provision requiring that concealed carry permit applicants demonstrate a need to carry a firearm.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.