The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has come out against Illinois’ 2023 ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms, including commonly owned rifles like the AR-15. In a legal filing, DOJ attorneys said the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

A federal judge in southern Illinois has already ruled the law unconstitutional. Illinois is appealing the decision to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which is now reviewing the case.

Senator X says the ban unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners and that the DOJ’s position reinforces the long-standing constitutional right to possess commonly used firearms.

Backing that view, 35 Illinois State’s Attorneys have also filed a brief urging the court to strike down the ban, saying it punishes citizens without reducing crime. The court’s final decision could have a major impact on gun rights not just in Illinois, but across the country.