Supreme Court rejects challenge to Connecticut's assault weapon ban

The Supreme Court denied hearing a challenge to the Connecticut assault weapons ban by guns rights groups and firearm owners.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 20 June 2016

The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a challenge brought by firearm owners and gun rights groups over a semiautomatic weapon ban in Connecticut. Opponents of the ban argue that it violates their Second Amendment rights, and that they use such weapons for "self-defense, hunting, and recreational shooting," Reuters reports. New York State has a similar ban on assault weapons.

The court's decision follows the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history when a gunman wielding an assault rifle killed 49 at an Orlando nightclub. The national assault weapon ban expired in 2004; the Supreme Court has not decided a major gun case since 2010.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.