A federal appeals court on July 10, 2026, upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, preserving the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The law, passed and swiftly signed by Governor JB Pritzker in January 2023, was enacted in response to the Highland Park July 4th parade mass shooting that resulted in seven deaths and 36 injuries.

The legislation prohibits the sale of over 100 types of semiautomatic firearms and limits magazine capacities. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling, stating the ban is "consistent with our regulatory tradition" and does not violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The court emphasized that "whether to adopt them is thus a decision reposed in our elected representatives, and we reverse."

The injunction against the ban was set to take effect 30 days after the judge's decision.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, representing the firearms industry and opposing the ban, expressed disappointment and announced plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. A dissenting judge argued that "because the people have overwhelmingly chosen the AR-15 rifle and its magazine as their weapon of choice, they are protected by the Second Amendment."

Supporters of the ban hailed the ruling as "a victory in the fight to end gun violence that helps keep our communities safe," citing evidence linking assault weapons and large-capacity magazines to the severity of gun violence.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to consider a legal challenge to a similar Cook County law, predating the statewide ban, later this year.

Sources