Judge Denies Motion to Reconsider Ruling Concerning Assault Weapons Ban

Judge Douglas Jarman has denied a motion to reconsider his earlier decision regarding the state's assault weapons ban.

Jarman dismissed in August the lawsuit filed by Accuracy Firearms of Effingham and thousands of others against the ban. Attorneys for the plaintiffs asked Jarman to reconsider that decision.

The judge wrote Thursday that he is bound by the Illinois Supreme Court's decision in a similar suit brought by St. Rep. Dan Caulkins of Decatur against the ban. The state supreme court ruled that members of the public are not in all aspects similar to the individuals listed as exempt from the ban. Jarman said the state court ruled the exemption of those individuals does not violate the equal protection clause of the state constittution. Jarman wrote that the Caulkins suit against Governor J.B. Pritzker controls the Accuracy Firearms suit, so denied the motion to reconsider.

Thursday's ruling still doesn't end things, as further pleadings are expected, possibly to the US Supreme Court.