Major Ruling: U.s. Appeals Court Strikes Down New Jersey’s Assault Weapons Ban

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that New Jersey's ban on assault weapons and magazines holding more than 10 rounds violates the Second Amendment.

In a 10-5 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit became the first federal appeals court to strike down a state's assault weapons ban as unconstitutional.

The court said commonly owned semiautomatic rifles and standard-capacity magazines are protected under the Constitution, relying on the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, which requires modern firearm laws to be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of gun regulation.

New Jersey officials argued the restrictions are necessary to reduce gun violence and mass shootings. Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the state is reviewing its legal options following the ruling.

The decision is not necessarily the final word. The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to hear similar challenges involving assault weapons bans in Illinois and Connecticut, meaning the issue could ultimately be decided nationwide.