The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether state bans on semi-automatic rifles in Illinois and Connecticut infringe the Second Amendment, a ruling that could reshape gun rights by foregrounding how history and tradition justify firearm limits.

The discussion underscores the potential role of the National Firearms Act of 1934 in maintaining limits on automatic weapons, highlighting a tension between traditional classifications and modern firearms.

Experts at George Washington University suggest Bruen v. New York State Rifle & Pistol Association informs the case, with the Court possibly striking down assault weapon bans by prioritizing historical precedent and the framers’ view of military weapons.

Looking ahead, the Court’s December docket includes RNC v. Mi Familia Vota on proof of citizenship for voting and Kian v. Florida on jury size, both carrying implications for appellate review and trial continuity across states.

Cottrol argues that the Militia Act of 1792 could protect certain military-style weapons under the Second Amendment, complicating how bans on semi-automatic firearms might be defended without clashing with history and tradition.