Supreme Court to Decide if Assault Weapons Bans Are Legal

The Supreme Court announced it will hear challenges to so-called “assault weapons bans” this fall, deciding the fate of AR-15s and similar guns.

Jacki Billings (Editor-in-Chief)

PPT Editor-in-Chief. Professional journalist 15+ years. NRA & BLS instructor. 2000+ articles

Published Jul 1, 2026

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The Supreme Court announced it will hear challenges to so-called “assault weapons bans” in Connecticut and the Chicago area.

In a list released in late June, the high court granted judicial review (also known as certiorari), combining two cases involving bans on popular semi-auto guns — Viramontes v. Cook County(Docket No: 25-238) and Grant v. Higgins (Docket No: 25-566).

Viramontes v. Cook County challenged a ban on AR-15s and other semi-auto guns in Cook County, Illinois. Meanwhile, Grant v. Higgins confronts a similar ban in Connecticut.

The motion caught the attention of activists on both sides of the aisles.

The Second Amendment Foundation, which filed petitions on both cases, hopes the justices will offer clarification that will ultimately help gun owners in ban states.

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“The modern semi-automatic rifles banned in Cook County, Connecticut and elsewhere are among the most commonly owned firearms in the country, placing them well within the scope of the Second Amendment,” SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut said in a press release.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to hear these pivotal cases will finally provide the courts the necessary guidance as it relates to the types of arms protected by the Second Amendment.”

On the other side of the argument, gun control activists are imploring the Supreme Court to uphold the federal appeals courts decisions.

“Assault weapons cause massive devastation. They are the weapons of choice for mass shooters,” Janet Carter, managing director of Second Amendment litigation at Everytown Law said in a statement.

“These laws are critical public safety measures, and they are consistent with the Second Amendment. Six federal appeals courts have rightly upheld assault weapon and large-capacity magazine laws, and we urge the Supreme Court to follow suit.”

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As of 2026, 11 states and Washington D.C. have some form of an assault weapons bans on the books. Virginia was the latest to join in, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger signing a ban on AR-15s and similar firearms into law in May. It was immediately met with a lawsuit.

In its 2025 Firearm Production in the United States Report, the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that more than 32 million modern sporting rifles are in circulation in the U.S.

The NSSF notes that, “MSRs are the most popular selling centerfire rifle in America and solidly more common than Ford F-150s on the road today (the most popular selling pickup truck in America).”

Four of the nine sitting Supreme Court justices granted the reviews of the case. Arguments will likely be heard this fall.

What do you think of the Supreme Court taking up the issue of AR-15 bans? Let us know in the comments below. Need an AR? Stock up with our Best AR-15 and Best Budget AR-15 articles.

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