First Circuit Upholds Massachusetts Assault Weapon Ban Amid Appeals

A federal appeals court unanimously upheld Massachusetts' ban on the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms, such as the AR-15, and high-capacity magazines, finding the law does not violate the Second Amendment. The First Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the ban imposes minimal burden on civilian self-defense, citing a lack of evidence that such weapons are used for self-defense and referencing historical firearm regulations. The court relied on precedent from a similar Rhode Island case and noted that the Massachusetts law is consistent with the nation's tradition of regulating especially dangerous weapons. The ruling marks a continued trend of appellate courts upholding state-level hardware bans post the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, frustrating gun rights advocates who argue these bans contravene Supreme Court precedent. Plaintiffs, including the National Association for Gun Rights, may still appeal or pursue the case's merits in district court. The decision allows Massachusetts to continue enforcing its restrictions for now.