Illinois’ gun ban upheld after appeals court reverses district judge’s ruling

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ gun ban is upheld after a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the case that was heard in September 2025.

The state banned certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023. After a year of preliminary action in the courts, which had one case go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024, a district judge in East St. Louis found the law unconstitutional in November 2024 following a bench trial. The case consolidated four separate challenges to the gun ban.

The appeals court heard the case in September 2025.

“The Act’s restrictions on these items [AR-15s and thirty-round rifle magazines], we hold, are consistent with the principles that underpin our Nation’s tradition of firearm regulation,” the three judge appeal panel wrote in Thursday’s ruling. “Whether to adopt them is thus a decision reposed in our elected representatives, and we reverse.”

Supporters of gun control laws praised the decision.

“The Seventh Circuit’s ruling adds to an unbroken front of federal appeals court decisions that have consistently found that assault weapon and large-capacity magazine bans are constitutional and consistent with our country’s historical tradition of regulating unusually dangerous weapons,” said a statement from Eric Tirschwell, executive director at Everytown Law. “We strongly urge the Supreme Court to follow suit and protect the right of communities to shield themselves from the weapons of choice for mass shooters.”

Gun rights advocates had always expected the U.S. Supreme Court would be the final arbiter.

“Shocking absolutely no one, the 7th Circuit has upheld Illinois’ ‘assault weapon’ and magazine ban,” the National Association for Gun Rights said in a post on X. “It was expected. Activist judges and petty tyrants are going to cling to these laws for as long as they possibly can. Thankfully, the hammer of SCOTUS is coming soon.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a social media post that Illinois will continue banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Pritzker said Illinois will continue banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson expressed optimism that the case would go to the Supreme Court.

“I think we’re getting to that point. We already have Viramontes up there, which is the Cook County case,” Pearson told The Center Square.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in another Illinois case challenging gun bans, Viramontes v. Cook County. The Supreme Court also took up the Connecticut case Grant v. Higgins.

It’s unclear if plaintiffs in the consolidated case decided by the three-judge panel Thursday will ask for the entire appeals court to review the case before taking it to the U.S. Supreme Court.