Court Ruling Reinstates Assault Weapons Ban...for Now

A federal appeals judge in Chicago has stayed a ruling by a southern Illinois federal judge that temporarily blocked enforcement of Illinois' assault weapons ban.

Appellate Judge Frank Easterbrook Thursday stayed the ruling by US District Judge Stephen McGlynn while it is reviewed by the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

After McGlynn's ruling, lawyers for the State appealed to the 7th Circuit and on Tuesday asked it to block the ruling. In the meantime, Easterbrook has stayed McGlynn's ruling.

In the meantime, a Zoom hearing related to the court ruling affecting Accuracy Firearms of Effingham and several hundred other plaintiffs was held Thursday afternoon, with Chief Circuit Judge Douglas Jarman hearing arguments from attorney Thomas DeVore on behalf of the plaintiffs and attorneys for the governor, attorney general, senate president and house speaker. Judge Jarman promised a written ruling in the matter today.