Supreme Court declines to block Illinois ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined to block Illinois's assault weapons ban and high-capacity magazine restrictions while a challenge to the law proceeds through the lower courts.

The decision saw no justices dissent and marks the second rejection of such a request in the case, The Hill reported. The National Association for Gun Rights has challenged the bill, along with gun store owner Robert Bevis and the group previously asked the court to block the law, which the court in May refused to do.

A panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in November upheld the ban, which bars the sale of certain semi-automatic weapons, prompting the renewed request for a stay. Plaintiffs deemed the decision "manifestly erroneous" and said it would result in state citizens suffering "irreparably injury." The Supreme Court could ultimately still hear the case, however, should the appeal progress.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act was passed in January and did not require the existing owners of so-called "assault weapons" to hand in their firearms.

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