Judge Stephen McGlynn has ruled that the state of Illinois cannot enforce its “Protecting Illinois Communities Act” (PICA), which banned certain types of semiautomatic rifles and “high capacity” magazines. The ruling was made by Judge Stephen McGlynn of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, who stated that PICA was unconstitutional under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment. The order has been stayed for 30 days.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office plans to appeal the ruling, stating that the Protect Illinois Communities Act remains in effect for the next 30 days. Gun rights advocates have hailed the ruling as a victory in their fight to preserve the Second Amendment.
The ruling comes after four lawsuits were combined, with Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation among the plaintiffs. The lawsuit challenged the ban on AK-47 and AR-15 style rifles, as well as magazines holding more than 10 rounds for rifles and more than 15 rounds for pistols.
Judge McGlynn ruled that the Illinois law did not meet the standard set by the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. The ruling stated that the law must be in accordance with the plain text of the Constitution and comparable to the law in effect at the time the Second Amendment was ratified. While the state referenced firearms regulations found in English Common law in its argument, McGlynn said it failed to meet the Bruen standard.
The plaintiffs in the case are hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear a similar case from Maryland, Snope v. Brown, which challenges Maryland’s ban on certain firearms. The case argues that Maryland’s law unconstitutionally prohibits firearms that are “in common use for lawful purposes.”
In conclusion, the ruling by Judge McGlynn has temporarily halted the enforcement of PICA in Illinois, with the state planning to appeal the decision. The case highlights the ongoing legal battles over gun rights and regulations in the United States.
Please rewrite the following sentence: “The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
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