Illinois Supreme Court Upholds State's Ban on Assault Weapons

The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the state's assault-style weapons ban in a 4-3 ruling, rejecting legal challenges that argued the law violated the Illinois and US constitutions. The ban, which was passed in January and signed into law by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, prohibits the sale and transfer of assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines. Owners of such rifles must register them with the Illinois State Police by 2024. The court's decision comes after a Macon County Circuit Court judge found earlier this year that certain exemptions to the law violated the state's equal protection clause.