Government may not deprive law-abiding citizens of their guaranteed right to self-defense as a means of offense,” the judge wrote.

Officials in the state have already filed an appeal after the Trump-appointed judge’s ruling, which cites recent Supreme Court decisions on the Second Amendment.

A federal judge on Friday struck down Illinois' assault weapons ban, ruling it violates the Second and 14th Amendments of the Constitution. The big picture: The law barring assault weapons and high-capacity magazines has faced a number of legal challenges since it was signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) in 2023.

A federal judge in Illinois has ruled the state's blanket ban on assault weapons is unconstitutional and violates the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

A federal judge has blocked Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, adopted after a gunman killed 7 people at a parade

The Illinois ban on assault weapons has lost a major court battle. A judge for the U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois Stephen McGlynn has ruled Friday afternoon the state’s ban on the sale of assault weapons is unconstitutional for gun owners.

The ban was signed into law in January 2023 and prohibited the sale or transfer of assault rifles and high-capacity magazines in Illinois.