AR-15 rifle
Coverage of AR-15 rifle in the Nexus archive.
- Federal appeals court upholds Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons, overturning lower-court ruling
A federal appeals court upheld Illinois's ban on semiautomatic weapons, overturning a lower court's ruling that deemed the ban unconstitutional. The Seventh Circuit's 2-1 decision affirmed the law's compliance with the Second Amendment, citing its alignment with firearm regulation traditions and evidence linking such weapons to severe gun violence. The law, enacted in 2023, was prompted by a 2022 mass shooting at a Chicago-area parade.
- Federal appeals court upholds Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons, overturning lower-court ruling
A federal appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, reversing a lower court's ruling that found the law unconstitutional. The decision, in a 2-1 ruling, affirmed the law's compliance with the Second Amendment and its role in addressing gun violence. The law, enacted after a 2022 Highland Park parade shooting, faces opposition from gun rights groups seeking Supreme Court review.
- Supreme Court to Weigh Constitutional Protection for AR-15 Rifles
The Supreme Court is set to consider whether AR-15 rifles are protected under the Constitution. Custom-painted AR-15 rifles were displayed at a gun show in Phoenix.
- Gun-wielding couple in viral BLM standoff got firepower — and 'a voice' — back after legal saga
A couple in St. Louis, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, gained national attention in 2020 for brandishing firearms during a Black Lives Matter protest on their private street. After a five-year legal battle involving three lawsuits and over 1,800 days of litigation, Mark McCloskey recovered his AR-15 rifle in 2025, highlighting ongoing debates about self-defense, property rights, and prosecutorial power.