The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia struck down New Jersey’s ban on semiautomatic rifles and magazines holding over 10 rounds. The court ruled these restrictions violate the Second Amendment.
This decision expands a lower court’s ruling, declaring the state’s laws on ‘assault firearms’ and large-capacity magazines as unconstitutional. The court’s ruling extends to a full class of semiautomatic rifles, including more than just the AR-15.
The National Rifle Association (NRA), which has been contesting these laws since 2018, hailed the decision as a ‘historic victory.’ A statement from the NRA emphasized it as a major win for gun owners across the nation.
Justin Davis, managing director of public affairs for the NRA, expressed, “This is an NRA case we’ve been litigating since 2018, so it’s a monumental win.”
“This ruling protects the rights of millions of responsible gun owners in the Garden State,” the NRA stated. “It serves as another benchmark in our efforts to dismantle gun control across the country.”
U.S. Circuit Judge Arianna Freeman wrote that Supreme Court decisions like District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen require modern firearm restrictions to align with the historical tradition of U.S. gun laws. The court found New Jersey failed this test.
The opinion noted New Jersey’s ‘assault firearms law’ originated in 1990 after a California school shooting. The state’s governor at that time described the banned guns as capable of ‘wholesale destruction.’
Several judges dissented, highlighting that the firearms in question are military-style weapons that states have traditionally regulated. They argued that the decision contradicts other federal appeals court rulings upholding similar state laws.