Federal judge strikes down assault weapons ban in Illinois

A federal judge in Illinois on Friday struck down the state's assault weapons ban, ruling that the ban is unconstitutional and barred the state from enforcing it after 30 days.

Illinois passed and enacted the "Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA)" in 2023, following the July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park in 2022. The shooting resulted in the deaths of seven people. 

Judge Stephen McGlynn, who was appointed under President-elect Donald Trump's first presidency, claimed that property crimes were rising because of the ban, according to The Guardian.

McGlynn said it was “particularly disturbing” that the “prohibition of weapons that are commonly owned and used by citizens are now banned, depriving citizens of a principal means to defend themselves and their property."

The judge sided with plaintiffs who claimed that the assault weapons were largely used for self defense purposes, which should be legal. 

“The court must take action as justice demands,” McGlynn wrote in his 168-page ruling. "[PICA] is an unconstitutional affront … and must be enjoined. The government may not deprive law-abiding citizens of their guaranteed right to self-defense as a means of offense.”

The ruling comes after McGlynn issued a preliminary injunction on the law in March, which was overturned by the seventh court of appeals. The state is allowed to appeal the ruling again.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.