SAF Wins Federal Challenge to Illinois Rifle, Magazine Ban

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is celebrating a huge victory in U.S. District Court in Illinois in which the court declared provisions of the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) which criminalize possession of so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The case is known as Harrel v. Raoul.

SAF is joined by the Illinois State Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, C4 Gun Store, Marengo Guns and Dane Harrel, for whom the lawsuit is named.

In his 168-page decision, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn, a Donald Trump appointee, wrote, “As the prohibition of firearms is unconstitutional, so is the registration scheme for assault weapons, attachments, and large-capacity magazines.”

He enjoined Illinois from enforcing the firearm registration requirements and penalties associated with the requirements of the statute.

“This is a great victory for the Second Amendment Foundation and the right to keep and bear arms,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The gun prohibition lobby and their bought-and-paid-for politicians just suffered a big defeat.”

“Today commonsense prevailed with the finding that Illinois’ AWB and magazine capacity ban are an unconstitutional affront to the Second Amendment,” added SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “It is high time the Supreme Court weigh in and put finality to this issue once and for all. Our win today is a step in that direction, but our pending cert petition on this issue from Maryland provides the Court an opportunity to resolve this issue expediently without more unnecessary appeals in other cases.”

For more information, visit saf.org. 

The Second Amendment Foundation (saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the fundamental rights of individuals enshrined in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. SAF engages in aggressive legal action to ensure the principles of armed self-defense, personal liberty, and the ownership of arms are defended, secured, and restored. Through public education initiatives, SAF teaches the importance of the Second Amendment to promote a society that values and exercises the right to keep and bear arms.