The U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider whether bans on certain semiautomatic rifles often described as “assault weapons” violate the Second Amendment. The cases to be reviewed involve Connecticut and a Chicago-area jurisdiction, where laws restrict the possession of specific firearm models or categories. The question before the court centers on the constitutionality of those bans in light of the Supreme Court’s prior decisions expanding Second Amendment protections for gun ownership.
Multiple outlets report that the Court will evaluate whether the challenged restrictions can be upheld under the Second Amendment framework the Court has been applying in recent gun-rights litigation. The proceedings will focus on whether the rifles targeted by the bans fall within protected conduct and, if so, what level of scrutiny applies to the bans.
The Supreme Court’s decision could affect the scope of similar state and local regulations on semiautomatic firearms and may influence how future gun laws are assessed under the Constitution. A ruling is expected after the Court hears arguments and issues an opinion.
