The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals challenging restrictions on semiautomatic rifles like the AR-15 in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois, examining whether such bans violate the Second Amendment.

Similar bans exist in about a dozen states and major cities, with renewed efforts to revive a federal ban following its 2004 expiration amid mass shootings and ongoing political debate.

Gun-rights groups argue these bans infringe the Second Amendment, emphasizing the weapons’ lawful uses such as self-defense, sport shooting, and hunting, and citing historic limits on only dangerous and unusual weapons.

Oral arguments are anticipated in fall or early 2027, with a decision likely by mid-2027.

The decision is poised to be a landmark Second Amendment ruling, potentially among the most consequential since 2022.

The Court’s conservative tilt in Second Amendment matters and its evolving approach to “reasonable” restrictions and sensitive areas will shape the case, building on rulings such as permitting disarming credible threat offenders in domestic violence contexts.

This case provides a fresh chance to refine the Court’s June 2022 recognition of the right to bear arms outside the home with restrictions, and its June 2024 stance on restricting access for individuals deemed credible threats.

The Court will reassess its June 2022 jurisprudence on bearing arms outside the home, evaluating laws against the country’s historical traditions from the late 18th to 19th centuries.

The ruling will clarify how lower courts interpret firearm restrictions, following the 2024 move to tighten the framework after past ambiguities.

The legal landscape shows support from gun-safety groups and opposition from gun-rights groups, with mixed prior decisions and ongoing uncertainty about how the Court will rule.

The decision could affect similar laws in about a dozen states and major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

The Court will decide in its October 2026 session whether these state and county prohibitions align with the Second Amendment.