Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Supreme Court Says Assault Weapon Ban in Illinois Can Stay in Place for Now
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 years ago on
May 17, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Supreme Court said Wednesday that Illinois can, for now, keep in place a new law that bars the sale of certain semi-automatic guns and large-capacity magazines.

The high court denied an emergency request from people challenging the law, which bans so-called assault weapons. The law’s opponents had asked the court to put the law on hold while a court challenge continues. The court did not comment and no justice publicly dissented.

The high court’s action comes at a time when gun violence has been heavily in the news. Since the beginning of the year, 115 people have died in 22 mass killings — an average of one mass killing a week, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University. The database counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator. Just recently, on May 6, a man armed with an AR-15 style rifle and other firearms fatally shot eight people, including three children, at a Dallas-area mall.

Law Bans Sale of Assault-Type Weapons

The case before the Supreme Court involves an Illinois state law enacted in January. The legislation bans the sale of a series of guns including the AR-15 and AK-47. The law also bars the sale of magazines that have more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns and more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a long gun.

People who legally owned the now-barred guns and magazines ahead of the law’s enactment can continue to keep them. The guns, however, must be registered with law enforcement.

Nine other states and the District of Columbia have gun bans similar to the one in Illinois, according to the gun control group Brady, which tracks the legislation. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey and New York also require registration of guns purchased prior to the law while four other states – Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington — do not.

The Illinois legislation was driven largely by the killing of seven people at a 4th of July parade last year in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. The shooter was armed with an AR-15 rifle and 30-round magazines.

A federal trial court in February declined to put the law on hold. A federal appeals court also declined to put the law on hold while the case continues.

The case also involves a separate so-called assault weapon bans passed by the city of Naperville.

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority just last year handed gun rights activists a major victory, ruling that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. But the decision left open whether various restrictions states might impose would be constitutional.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Walz Calls Trump a ‘Tyrant’ Who Is Trampling Americans’ Rights and Violating the Rule of Law

DON'T MISS

Severe Weather Leaves at Least 23 Dead, Including 14 in Storm-Battered Kentucky

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Will Call Putin, Then Zelenskyy, on Monday to Push for Ukraine Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

‘Eat the Tariffs!’: Trump Warns Walmart Not to Pass Costs to Customers

DON'T MISS

Biden Audio Release Pressures Democrats Who Would Rather Talk About Trump

DON'T MISS

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

DON'T MISS

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

DON'T MISS

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

DON'T MISS

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

DON'T MISS

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

UP NEXT

Severe Weather Leaves at Least 23 Dead, Including 14 in Storm-Battered Kentucky

UP NEXT

Trump Says He Will Call Putin, Then Zelenskyy, on Monday to Push for Ukraine Ceasefire

UP NEXT

‘Eat the Tariffs!’: Trump Warns Walmart Not to Pass Costs to Customers

UP NEXT

Biden Audio Release Pressures Democrats Who Would Rather Talk About Trump

UP NEXT

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

UP NEXT

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

UP NEXT

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

UP NEXT

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

UP NEXT

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

UP NEXT

Bernie Sanders and AOC are Popular With Democrats. Here’s a Timeline of Their Alliance

‘Eat the Tariffs!’: Trump Warns Walmart Not to Pass Costs to Customers

2 hours ago

Biden Audio Release Pressures Democrats Who Would Rather Talk About Trump

2 hours ago

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

3 hours ago

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

3 hours ago

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

3 hours ago

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

3 hours ago

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

4 hours ago

Bernie Sanders and AOC are Popular With Democrats. Here’s a Timeline of Their Alliance

4 hours ago

Rescue Saves Fearful Terrier Mix From Euthanasia at Local Shelter

4 hours ago

9 National Parks With Scenic Bike Trails Perfect for Kids and Parents

5 hours ago

Walz Calls Trump a ‘Tyrant’ Who Is Trampling Americans’ Rights and Violating the Rule of Law

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota assailed Donald Trump in a law school graduation speech Saturday, accusing the Republican president of...

9 minutes ago

9 minutes ago

Walz Calls Trump a ‘Tyrant’ Who Is Trampling Americans’ Rights and Violating the Rule of Law

39 minutes ago

Severe Weather Leaves at Least 23 Dead, Including 14 in Storm-Battered Kentucky

1 hour ago

Trump Says He Will Call Putin, Then Zelenskyy, on Monday to Push for Ukraine Ceasefire

2 hours ago

‘Eat the Tariffs!’: Trump Warns Walmart Not to Pass Costs to Customers

2 hours ago

Biden Audio Release Pressures Democrats Who Would Rather Talk About Trump

3 hours ago

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

3 hours ago

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

3 hours ago

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend