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Federal appeals court upholds Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons

Published July 10, 2026 at 10:36 PM UTC

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A federal appeals court has upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, overturning a lower court's ruling that declared the law unconstitutional. The 2-1 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit found that the law does not violate the Second Amendment and aligns with the country's historical tradition of firearm regulation. The ban, enacted in 2023 following a deadly mass shooting in Highland Park during an Independence Day parade in 2022, prohibits AR-15-style rifles, large-capacity magazines, and certain attachments. The court rejected claims that semiautomatic weapons are not linked to mass shooting severity, citing evidence suggesting otherwise. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul praised the decision as essential for public safety. In contrast, the National Shooting Sports Foundation expressed disappointment and plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, referencing a dissenting opinion that viewed such firearms as commonly used for self-defense and thus protected. Previously, a federal judge had struck down the law in 2024, but an appeal delayed its implementation. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to review related semiautomatic weapon bans in the fall.