The U.S. Supreme Court has again declined to block Illinois’ ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, leaving the law in place for now.
A gun shop owner and the National Association for Gun Rights had petitioned for emergency relief, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment.
The justices issued a brief decision without dissent, allowing lower court litigation to continue. The law, passed after the 2022 Highland Park mass shooting, bans the sale and possession of assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles, related accessories, and tools that increase a firearm’s fire rate.
Despite recent rulings strengthening gun rights, the Court has rejected several emergency challenges to new restrictions. Plaintiffs argue the ban causes “irreparable injury,” while Illinois maintains that challengers failed to meet legal standards for emergency intervention.
