WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – The U.S. Supreme Court recently denied a request for an injunction against an Illinois law that bans the sale and distribution of a multitude of firearms including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles. 

While the National Association for Gun Rights and firearm retailer requested the injunction which would have blocked the enforcement of the state law, the request was denied.  So far no Justice has publicly dissented from the decision. 

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Beginning in January, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law the “Protect Illinois Communities Act” which banned the aforementioned types of firearms as well as forbid the sale and distribution of magazines with capacities for more than ten rounds for long guns and fifteen rounds for handguns according to Reuters. 

Gov. Pritzker spoke in praise of the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case nor grant the injunction. 

“The gun lobby has insisted on every legal maneuver to block this law, refusing to acknowledge that lives will be saved by this important piece of legislation. Despite these challenges, I remain confident that the assault weapons ban will be upheld and will create a safer Illinois for our residents,” he said.

According to a FAQ of the law Illinois residents “cannot purchase an AR-15 or assault weapon beginning January 11, 2023, unless subject to one of the narrow exemptions.” The FAQ also says that Illinois residents can legally keep current AR-15 or assault weapons, 

“Yes, an Illinois resident may keep any AR 15 or assault weapon that has been defined as an assault weapon under the new law if the firearm was owned prior to effective date of the law and registered between October 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024.”  Residents would also need to register firearms owned ahead of the law’s effect, but a process has not yet been established. 

Previously, the National Foundation for Gun Rights expressed their hopes that the Supreme Court would have heeded their concerns. 

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“The assault weapons ban is a blatant violation of the rights of law-abiding citizens and does nothing to address the causes of gun violence,” said Dudley Brown, President of the National Foundation for Gun Rights. “Between them, Illinois and the City of Naperville are about to drive a law-abiding gun store owner into bankruptcy just because they don’t like his business. That’s grossly unconstitutional, and we’re asking the Supreme Court to put a stop to it.”

This year Michigan has signed a series of gun packages into laws including expanded background checks, safe storage laws and red flag laws in the state.