Federal Appeals Court Upholds Illinois Assault Weapons Ban, Faces Backlash from Republican Representative Lauren Boebert

Court ruling outlined as "reasonable limit" on Second Amendment, with Illinois ban introduced after a deadly mass shooting; Rep. Lauren Boebert predicts Supreme Court intervention amidst public debate on gun control.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the state of Illinois' ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The ban was introduced in response to a deadly mass shooting at a July 4 parade in 2022.
Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a vocal advocate for Second Amendment rights, responds to the court's decision predicting it will invite scrutiny from the Supreme Court.
Despite challenges to the ban, arguing it infringes on Americans' Second Amendment rights, Judge Diane Wood argues that even the right enshrined in the Second Amendment has its limitations, similar to other fundamental rights such as free speech and the right to vote.
The ban, signed into law in January 2023, not only prohibits the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, but also requires existing owners of the weapons to register them with the Illinois State Police.
The ruling is seen as a victory by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who urges other lawmakers to establish similar measures. Despite challenges and potential appeals to the Supreme Court, gun control advocates express optimism regarding the ban's future.