John Commerford

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.

Connecticut Democrats introduced a bill to ban most Glock-style pistols that can be converted into machine guns, sparking concern among Second Amendment advocates who fear further gun restrictions. The bill targets semiautomatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar that can be altered to accept a converter device. Advocates argue that the bill unfairly targets law-abiding citizens instead of addressing criminal activity.