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Federal appeals court rules that New Jersey's assault weapons ban is unconstitutional
By AP at ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC)
· July 18, 2026
· 1 min read
This is the first time a federal appeals court has struck down a state ban on such weapons, and it comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider whether bans on semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment.
Key takeaway Supreme Court is set to consider whether bans on semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The federal appeals court ruling on New Jersey's assault weapons ban has significant implications for Los Angeles , where gun control measures have long been a topic of debate. As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on the constitutionality of semiautomatic rifle bans, local residents and lawmakers will be watching closely to see how the decision may impact California's own gun laws. California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, and a ruling that bans on semiautomatic rifles are unconstitutional could potentially lead to challenges to those laws. This could have major consequences for public safety in Los Angeles, where gun violence remains a concern. The city's lawmakers may need to reconsider their approach to gun control in light of the impending Supreme Court decision, and residents can expect a lively debate on the issue in the coming months.
About this story
Original reporting by ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 18, 2026 ·
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? This is the first time a federal appeals court has struck down a state ban on such weapons, and it comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider whether bans on semiautomatic rifles violate the Second Amendment.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 18, 2026 by ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by AP at ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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