Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Enforcement of Illinois’ Assault Weapons Ban

 Late Friday afternoon, Southern District of Illinois Federal Judge Stephen McGlynn granted a preliminary injunction to the plaintiffs, which temporarily prohibits the state of Illinois from enforcing its assault weapons ban.

The court sighted the new Bruens test, which views 2nd Amendment gun rights as they were historically understood when they were adopted into the U.S. Constitution. Under this test, Judge McGlynn determined that the plaintiffs satisfied their burden for a preliminary injunction by showing they faced irreparable harm and had a reasonable likelihood of success.

The case is now likely to be immediately appealed, but until that occurs, and a higher court issues a ruling or order, the order to enjoin the enforcement of the assault weapon ban is in place statewide.