Fresh off the U.S. Supreme Court announcing it will soon hear arguments about whether the Second Amendment allows Americans to own AR-15 Rifles, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled a New Jersey law banning the sale and possession of AR-15s and standard-capacity magazines is unconstitutional.

The case fully overturned an earlier district court which upheld parts of the state’s ban on semi-automatic rifles and magazines holding more than 10 rounds while reluctantly striking a ban on the Colt AR-15. The Third Circuit, sitting en banc (the whole court) ruled the entire ban on semi-automatic rifles unconstitutional on a 10-5 ruling. It also remanded the case to the district court for more proceedings about the constitutionality of the ban for semi-automatic shotguns and pistols.

The Third Circuit is the highest-level court nationwide so far to overturn such laws. The New Jersey case dates to 2018.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hold its hearing this fall.

Hunt 2 Conserve is a strong advocate of the Second Amendment.

About Hunt 2 Conserve

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.