Federal Appeals Court Upholds Illinois AR-15 Ban. Here’s What They Said.

In this Townhall article, Matt Vespa reports that a federal appeals court upheld Illinois’ AR-15 ban, delivering a blow to Second Amendment protections in the state.

• The court ruled that the ban on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles does not violate the Constitution, siding with state arguments despite widespread civilian ownership.
• Judges claimed the firearms are not protected under historical traditions of the Second Amendment, ignoring their prevalence for self-defense and sporting purposes.
• The decision ignores the Supreme Court’s Bruen framework emphasizing text, history, and tradition over subjective policy preferences.
• Critics argue the ruling exemplifies activist judging that undermines the individual right to keep and bear arms affirmed in Heller and Bruen.
• Illinois residents and gun owners face continued infringement as the ban remains in effect pending further appeals.
• The case highlights ongoing battles in lower courts to erode Second Amendment rights through incremental restrictions on popular firearms.

Read the full story:
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/07/10/federal-appeals-court-upholds-illinois-ar-15-ban-heres-what-they-said-n2679173