On Friday, July 18th, 2026, the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a sweeping en banc ruling that declared New Jersey's ban on semiautomatic rifles and magazines holding more than 10 rounds unconstitutional. The court held that these restrictions violate the Second Amendment, expanding a lower court's decision by applying the ruling to the entire class of semiautomatic rifles, not just the AR-15 model.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), which has litigated the case since 2018, called the ruling a "historic victory." Justin Davis, managing director of public affairs for the NRA, told Fox News Digital, "This is an NRA case that we've been litigating since 2018, so it's a monumental win."

The court's opinion noted that New Jersey enacted its "assault-firearms law" in 1990 following a California elementary school shooting. At that time, the governor described the banned firearms as "designed to wipe out the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time."

The majority concluded that semiautomatic rifles and magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds are protected by the Second Amendment. Furthermore, New Jersey failed to demonstrate that the restrictions align with America's historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The NRA stated, "Today marks a historic victory for the NRA, the Second Amendment, and law-abiding Americans." They also emphasized that the ruling "protects the rights of millions of responsible gun owners in the Garden State and serves as another benchmark in our efforts to dismantle gun control across the country."

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