The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals challenging bans on semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-15, in Connecticut and the Chicago area. These laws are similar to those in about a dozen states, including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

Background

The Connecticut law was passed after a mass shooter used an AR-15 to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. The state argues that these guns are a preferred weapon of mass shooters and can be banned because they are similar to military-grade weapons.

Gun rights groups, on the other hand, argue that it is unconstitutional to ban semi-automatic rifles, which are legally owned by millions of Americans. The Second Amendment Foundation’s executive director, Adam Kraut, stated that the Second Amendment protects arms in common use for lawful purposes, and it’s hard to argue that a type of rifle that potentially outnumbers Ford F-150 trucks in America doesn’t meet that standard.

Implications

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear these cases has significant implications for gun rights in the United States. The court has previously expanded Second Amendment rights and has struck down gun carry restrictions in Hawaii and a broad federal ban on gun ownership by marijuana users.

The case is expected to be heard in the fall, and the court’s decision will likely have a major impact on the ongoing debate over gun control and the Second Amendment.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.