Supreme Court allows Illinois 'assault weapons' ban to take effect

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The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Illinois' ban on "assault weapons" to take effect temporarily on Wednesday.

The ruling allows the Illinois law to remain in effect while lower courts deliberate on its constitutional status. Wednesday's ruling comes after a gun shop owner in Illinois requested an injunction against the ban.

The Illinois law bans the sale and new possession of semi-automatic "assault weapons." Those who already legally own such weapons would not have to turn them in. The law also bans the sale of large capacity magazines.

The court did not offer an explanation for its Wednesday decision, and there were no noted dissents.

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The Supreme Court ruled against an Illinois gun shop owner. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

The National Foundation for Gun Rights (NFGR) a legal group associated with the gun store that requested an injunction, expressed disappointment with Wednesday's ruling. The group remains committed to fighting Illinois' ban, however.

"Any action the Supreme Court would have taken at this point would only have been temporary and not on the merits of the case itself. Clearly, the Supreme Court is watching the issue closely and we look forward to appealing very soon on the merits if the 7th Circuit rules against us – as the signs currently point to," said Hannah Hill, Executive Director of the NFGR.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit is currently considering the case. The request for an injunction went to Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Illinois passed the Protect Illinois Communities Act on Jan. 10, banning the sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery and importation of "assault weapons" and large capacity magazines, with exceptions for law enforcement, military members and certain other professionals with firearm training. The legislation specifically names the AR-15 and AK-47 rifles and requires lawful owners of semi-automatic rifles to register their ownership with state police.

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Illinois passed legislation in January banning the sale, delivery and importation of so-called "assault weapons." The Supreme Court has allowed the law to remain in effect temporarily. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)

The 7th Circuit has yet to issue a final ruling on the Illinois law, but its decision is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

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Judge Stephen Patrick McGlynn, a Trump appointee in Illinois' Southern District, had initially granted the injunction earlier in May. Appellate Judge Frank Easterbrook then reversed McGlynn's ruling, a decision that has now been supported by both the 7th Circuit and the Supreme Court.

Dudey Brown, the president of National Association for Gun Rights, and Robert Bevis, a gun store owner, attempted to block Illinois from enforcing a ban on "assault weapons." (Courtesy of National Association for Gun Rights)

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McGlynn's ruling had argued that Illinois' law infringed on the right to self-defense and, in some cases, "completely obliterated that right by criminalizing the purchase and the sale of more than 190 'arms.'" 

Fox News' Kassy Dillon contributed to this report.