Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Faces Permanent Injunction

A federal judge in Illinois, Stephen P. McGlynn, has issued a permanent injunction against the state's Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), which bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. McGlynn ruled the law unconstitutional, citing recent U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Second Amendment, and emphasized that citizens' rights should not be subject to government whims. The law, enacted after the 2022 Highland Park shooting, was intended to enhance public safety, but McGlynn's decision aligns with gun-rights advocates who argue it infringes on self-defense rights. This injunction is stayed for 30 days to allow the state to appeal, and Governor J.B. Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have vowed to challenge the ruling, confident that the law will be upheld. The case is anticipated to have significant implications, potentially reaching the U.S. Supreme Court for a final decision.