Downstate Federal Judge Rules Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Is Unconstitutional

A downstate federal judge is calling Illinois’ assault weapons ban unconstitutional.  U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn in East St. Louis ruled that the statewide ban violates the Second Amendment.  McGlynn issued an order barring the state from enforcing it.  However, that order doesn’t go into effect for 30 days, and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul quickly filed an appeal.  Governor Pritzker signed the law in response to the deadly Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park in 2022.  The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case in July.