Breaking: 7th Circuit Upholds Illinois AR-15 Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to hear multiple challenges to state‑level AR‑15 bans next term, but in the meantime, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Illinois’ ban on AR‑15s and standard‑capacity magazines.

In a 2–1 decision, the court ruled that Illinois’ Protect Illinois Communities Act is constitutional. The two judges in the majority claimed the law fits within a historical tradition of prohibiting “dangerous” or “unusual” weapons, a framing gun‑rights advocates argue is completely detached from reality given the AR‑15’s widespread lawful ownership.

Judge Michael Brennan issued a blistering dissent, calling the Illinois ban a clear violation of the Second Amendment. He argued the majority misapplied Bruen by ignoring the fact that AR‑15s are commonly owned by millions of Americans, including Illinois residents, for lawful purposes such as self‑defense. Brennan’s reasoning is likely to mirror what the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately says when it takes up the issue next summer.

More than a dozen states have similar bans, and the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision is shaping up to be the most consequential Second Amendment ruling since District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the landmark case where the Court held that Americans have an individual right to possess firearms in common use for lawful purposes.