7th Circuit Court Upholds Illinois Assault Weapons Ban

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled 2-1 on July 10, 2026, that the Protect Illinois Communities Act is constitutional, overturning a November 2024 lower-court ruling that had declared the law unconstitutional. The law, signed by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023 following a mass shooting in Highland Park, prohibits the sale of over 100 types of semiautomatic firearms, including AR-15 rifles, and restricts magazines to 10 rounds.

Writing for the majority, Judge Amy J. St. Eve argued that the ban is consistent with the nation's tradition of firearm regulation and addresses the lethality of mass shootings. Chief Judge Michael Brennan dissented, contending that AR-15 rifles are commonly owned for self-defense and therefore protected by the Second Amendment.

Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul described the ruling as a victory for public safety. Conversely, the National Shooting Sports Foundation expressed disappointment and announced plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for review. The Supreme Court is already scheduled to consider the constitutionality of similar bans in Cook County and Connecticut during its next term.