A federal appeals court upheld Illinois’s ban on semi-automatic rifles Thursday, ruling the state can prohibit weapons it deems particularly dangerous despite a pending Supreme Court case on identical laws in other states.
The Seventh Circuit’s 2-1 decision keeps Illinois’s Protect Illinois Communities Act in force, allowing the state to criminalize possession of rifles that accept detachable magazines and have features like pistol grips or folding stocks. Violators face felony charges and prison time.
Court Compares Modern Rifles to Bowie Knives
Judge Amy St. Eve, a Trump appointee, wrote that the Illinois law “is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition” because states have historically banned weapons they considered dangerous. She pointed to 19th-century laws against Bowie knives as precedent.
Judge Frank Easterbrook, appointed by Reagan, joined the majority. The comparison to knife bans originated with Illinois Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Hunger during September arguments, when she told the court the rifle restrictions mirror historical bans on large blades.
The ruling applies the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which requires gun laws to align with historical tradition. St. Eve concluded the Illinois ban passes that test “because it applies indefinitely and authorizes imprisonment for violations, like the Bowie knife statutes.”
Supreme Court Already Reviewing Similar Bans
The timing puts the Seventh Circuit at odds with the Supreme Court’s own docket. Just over a week ago, the justices agreed to review assault weapon bans from other states, signaling potential national clarity on whether such laws violate the Second Amendment.
The high court’s decision to take those cases suggests at least four justices see unresolved constitutional questions—questions the Seventh Circuit just answered for Illinois gun owners. The one dissenting judge on Thursday’s panel was not identified in available records.
Gun owners in Illinois now face a choice: comply with the ban, challenge the ruling to the full Seventh Circuit, or wait for the Supreme Court’s guidance from the other cases. What happens next depends on whether the justices’ eventual ruling aligns with or contradicts the Seventh Circuit’s historical analysis.
Key Points
- Federal appeals court upheld Illinois ban on semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and tactical features
- Judges ruled the ban fits historical tradition of restricting “particularly dangerous” weapons like Bowie knives
- Decision comes one week after Supreme Court agreed to review identical bans from other states
https://www.courthousenews.com/seventh-circuit-upholds-illinois-assault-rifle-ban/ – July 10, 2026
