Seventh Circuit Judges, 2-1, Keep Illinois' AR-15 Ban Standing
The majority applied the Supreme Court's Bruen historical-tradition test, ruling the state need not find an identical founding-era weapon ban.
- Illinois enacted the Protect Illinois Communities Act in 2023, months after Highland Park's July 4 mass shooting.
- The law bars AR-15-style semi-automatics and magazines holding more than ten rounds.
- The dissenting judge said no historical analogue permits banning rifles millions of Americans currently own.
Why it mattersOne judge's tie-breaking vote, not the Constitution's text, decided which rifles millions of owners may keep.
Seventh Circuit opinion, Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois v. Pritzker (No. 24-3063, consolidated with Barnett v. Raoul) ↗ · Jul 10, 20267/10/26 · ✓ Checked✓ Check