<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A coalition of pro-gun groups has submitted filings to the Supreme Court, arguing that state "assault weapons" bans violate Second Amendment rights. The court is set to hear oral arguments on December 2 regarding the legality of these bans in cases involving Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The consolidated cases, <em>Viramontes v. Cook County</em> and <em>Grant v. Higgins</em>, will assess whether these bans, which typically prohibit the purchase of AR-15 and similar semiautomatic rifles, are constitutional under the Second and 14th amendments. The ruling could impact similar laws in various other states.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The brief filed by the National Rifle Association, American Suppressor Association, and Independence Institute states that modern semiautomatic firearms represent the latest iteration of weapons that the founders intended to protect under the Second Amendment. The groups argue that the bans would undermine this tradition.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The pro-gun groups assert that the Supreme Court has previously affirmed the protection of modern arms, emphasizing that the bans would be incompatible with federal law and would regress Second Amendment rights.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In support of the challenge, several briefs from conservative and pro-gun organizations argue that banning widely used firearms contradicts the Second Amendment's intent. A brief from Gun Owners of America states that AR-15s and similar rifles are included in the Second Amendment's definition of "Arms," making the bans presumptively unconstitutional.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Trump administration has also backed the challenge, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing that the bans are unconstitutional. The Department of Justice's brief claims that the laws do not align with the country’s historical context of firearm regulation and contradict the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in <em>New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen</em>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sauer noted that the AR-15 is commonly used by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, including self-defense, hunting, and target shooting, and that a ban on such rifles would violate the Second Amendment.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Supreme Court will hear these cases during a two-week argument session that includes other significant cases related to parental rights, religious rights, and voter registration laws. A ruling in the <em>Viramontes</em> case is expected by the end of June 2027.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In advance of the oral arguments, officials from Cook County and Connecticut, along with anti-gun groups, are preparing to file briefs to support the constitutionality of the bans by the end of October.</p>