A federal appeals court has struck down New Jersey’s ban on AR-15-style rifles and magazines holding more than 10 rounds, marking the first time a U.S. circuit court has invalidated a state assault weapons ban on Second Amendment grounds.
In a 10-5 en banc decision, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that New Jersey’s prohibitions on so-called “assault firearms” and large-capacity magazines violate the Second Amendment under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen framework.
Court: Commonly owned firearms are protected
The majority concluded that the banned semiautomatic rifles and standard-capacity magazines are commonly possessed by law-abiding Americans for lawful purposes and therefore fall within the Second Amendment’s protection.
The ruling expands on a 2024 district court decision that invalidated New Jersey’s ban on AR-15 rifles but left the state’s 10-round magazine limit in place. The 3rd Circuit struck down both restrictions, sending the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.
The decision represents a significant departure from earlier appellate rulings that upheld similar laws in other parts of the country and deepens an existing split among the federal circuits. Just days earlier, another federal appeals court upheld Illinois’ assault weapons ban.
State weighs next steps
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport criticized the ruling, calling it “legally incorrect” and warning that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines play a significant role in mass shootings.
“We are considering our options,” Davenport said after the decision.
Gun rights organizations celebrated the ruling as a landmark victory.
The National Rifle Association called the opinion a “historic victory” for the Second Amendment, while the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, which challenged the law, said the decision vindicated the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners.
Supreme Court showdown appears likely
The ruling carries implications well beyond New Jersey.
Eleven states and the District of Columbia currently have laws restricting the sale or possession of assault weapons, while numerous states also limit magazine capacity. The split among federal appeals courts increases the likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether such bans are constitutional under Bruen.
Legal analysts say the 3rd Circuit’s decision could become one of the most consequential Second Amendment rulings since Bruen, potentially reshaping gun laws across the country if it is allowed to stand — or if the Supreme Court adopts its reasoning.
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