Major appeals court declares New Jersey AR-15 ban unconstitutional in landmark Second Amendment ruling

A federal appeals court ruled New Jersey's ban on semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, expanding a prior lower court decision to cover all semiautomatic rifles. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, citing Supreme Court precedents like Heller and Bruen, concluded New Jersey failed to justify its restrictions as consistent with historical firearm regulation. The National Rifle Association hailed the decision as a 'historic victory' after years of litigation.