Supreme Court Urged to Allow AR-15s, Assault Weapons in Chicago

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM EDT Updated Aug 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM EDT


Two guns rights organizations are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their challenge to a ban on assault weapons in an Illinois county. The Firearms Policy Coalition and the Second Amendment Foundation filed a petition for writ of certiorari on Wednesday. The petitioners are challenging a ban on assault weapons, including the AR-15, in Cook County, where the city of Chicago is located.

"The Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) remains steadfast in its mission to protect Cook County residents, and our law enforcement partners from acts of domestic terrorism committed with military-grade weaponry. We will defend common-sense firearm regulations restricting assault weapon ownership no matter the venue. We are ready for the fight," the Cook County State's Attorney's Office told Newsweek on Friday.

Why It Matters

The ruling could have implications for a statewide ban on assault weapons in Illinois, as well as other similar bans throughout the nation.

In June, the Court declined to hear a case on an assault weapons ban in Maryland, with conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh writing in a statement respecting the Court's denial. "Additional petitions for certiorari will likely be before this Court shortly and, in my view, this Court should and presumably will address the AR–15 issue soon, in the next Term or two," he wrote.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/supreme-court-urged-allow-ar-15s-assault-weapons-chicago-2121645