Illinois Supreme Court to rule Friday on state's assault weapons ban constitutionality

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to rule Friday on the constitutionality of the state's assault weapons ban.

In May, the high court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by State Republican Representative Dan Caulkins. His attorneys argued the state's ban violates the equal protection and special legislation clauses of the state constitution.

While the lawsuit plays out, the state Supreme Court said Illinois could keep in place the law – enacted in January – that bans the sale of a series of guns including the AR-15 and AK-47. The law also bars the sale of magazines that have more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns and more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a long gun.

People who legally owned the now-barred guns and magazines ahead of the law’s enactment can continue to keep them. The guns, however, must be registered with law enforcement.

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Nine other states and the District of Columbia have gun bans similar to the one in Illinois, according to the gun control group Brady, which tracks the legislation. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey and New York also require registration of guns purchased prior to the law while four other states – Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington – do not.

The Illinois legislation was driven largely by the killing of seven people at a 4th of July parade last year in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. The shooter was armed with an AR-15 rifle and 30-round magazines.

A federal trial court in February declined to put the law on hold. A federal appeals court also declined to put the law on hold while the case continues.

The case also involves a separate so-called assault weapon bans passed by the city of Naperville.

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority just last year handed gun rights activists a major victory, ruling that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. But the decision left open whether various restrictions states might impose would be constitutional.

Associated Press contributed to this report.