The Supreme Court will decide whether states and local governments may ban AR-15-style rifles. The cases challenge laws in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois, and will be heard in the court’s next term.
Posts tagged as “AR-15”
A shooting at Old Dominion University’s College of Business classroom, carried out by Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guardsman with a history of terrorism-related offenses, resulted in the death of Army ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah and injuries to two others. ROTC students subdued the gunman with a knife, preventing further casualties, and the FBI has classified the attack as an act of terrorism. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, while Virginia officials have honored the victims and praised the bravery of those who intervened.
U.S. Capitol Police arrested a man with a rifle in a park near Senate office buildings in Washington, D.C. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) responded to reports that the arrested individual was carrying an AR-15. The Capitol Police said that they received a call about a man with a gun and officers arrested the man in the park, reminding the need for increased security around the Capitol building and other government buildings in Washington, D.C.
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the state's ban on assault weapons, overturning a lower court decision. The ban prohibits the sale or possession of certain semiautomatic weapons, including AR-15s and AK-47s, as well as large-capacity magazines. The ruling is a victory for gun control advocates and remains in effect in Illinois, though it is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
On Friday, a 15-year-old student at Bostrom High School in Phoenix, Arizona was arrested after allegedly bringing an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and ammunition to school. The school was placed under lockdown and the student was facing "serious felony charges" upon his arrest. The Phoenix Police Department is currently investigating the incident and has not released any further information.
On Monday, 18-year-old Beau Wilson went on a 10-minute shooting rampage in Farmington, New Mexico, killing three elderly women and wounding six other people, including two officers. Police body camera footage released Thursday showed the chaotic confrontation between officers and the gunman, who had an AR-15 rifle and two handguns. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe praised the officers' "incredible courage and bravery" and "heroic actions" in the face of danger. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the issue of gun ownership in America, calling it an "ideological" and "partisan" issue. The Supreme Court has declined to block a new law in Illinois that bans assault-style weapons, and a federal judge has blocked a similar law in Illinois. Obama has urged Congress to pass "common-sense gun safety laws" and called on Americans to come together to find common ground on the issue of gun violence.