Illinois assault weapons ban upheld, but Supreme Court could upend it

What they're saying: "Illinois will continue banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines capable of inflicting mass casualties," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said on social media last week after the state's ban was upheld. "A victory in the fight to end gun violence that helps keep our communities safe."

Reality check: Since the 2022 Bruen decision, the Supreme Court has required modern gun regulations to be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation, a standard that has made many state gun laws more vulnerable to legal challenges.

Flashback: Cook County enacted its assault weapons ban in 1993 and expanded it after the 2007 killing of Chicago teenager Blair Holt.

• The ordinance bans the possession, acquisition and transfer of semiautomatic rifles, including AR-15-style weapons.
• Federal courts previously upheld the law, but the Supreme Court agreed this year to review it.

Zoom out: The Supreme Court's ruling could reshape assault weapons laws well beyond Cook County, including Illinois' statewide ban.

• The state pushed through a ban after the Highland Park parade shooting in 2022, where seven people were killed and dozens were injured when a gunman opened fire on the crowd with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. He fired over 80 bullets in just under 40 seconds.

The bottom line: Illinois won this round in federal court, but the Supreme Court is poised to decide whether assault weapons bans like Illinois' and Cook County's can stand nationwide.

What's next: Justices will hear the case this fall, but a decision isn't expected until summer 2027.