Massachusetts AR-15 Ban Upheld by First Circuit Court, Impacting Gun Retailers
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has upheld Massachusetts' ban on AR-15 rifles, rejecting a challenge from three gun stores. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel maintains the state's restrictions on assault weapons, including the popular AR-15, citing the weapons' frequent use in offensive combat rather than self-defense. The ruling aligns with the First Circuit's precedent and follows the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen, which evaluated firearms laws through historical perspectives. The decision comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear similar cases from Connecticut and Illinois. 
