Federal appeals court rules that New Jersey’s assault weapons ban is unconstitutional

A federal appeals court ruled New Jersey’s assault weapons and large-capacity magazine bans unconstitutional, marking the first such decision at the federal appeals level. The ruling contrasts with a recent Illinois court upholding similar restrictions and precedes the U.S. Supreme Court’s review of semiautomatic rifle bans. New Jersey’s attorney general criticized the decision, while the NRA hailed it as a victory for Second Amendment rights.