ILLINOIS — A coalition of gun rights organizations and firearms dealers has filed a response brief in federal court, continuing their challenge to Illinois’ Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) — a law that bans the sale and possession of AR-15-style rifles and other semi-automatic weapons.
The case, Barnett v. Raoul, is now being heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, where plaintiffs argue the ban is a violation of Second Amendment rights. The latest legal filing, submitted on June 6, represents the plaintiffs’ formal response to the state’s defense of the law.
What Is PICA and Why It’s Being Challenged
The Protect Illinois Communities Act, signed into law in 2023, prohibits the sale, transfer, and future possession of a wide range of semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and magazines over a certain capacity. Supporters argue the measure is aimed at preventing mass shootings and enhancing public safety.
But plaintiffs — including Gun Owners of America, Guns Save Life, the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois, and multiple named individuals — claim the law unfairly targets firearms that are in common use and protected by the Constitution.
“We’re suing to overturn this massive infringement on Second Amendment rights in Illinois,” Gun Owners of America said in a public statement.
Key Arguments in the June Response Brief
The 65-page response brief filed in the case emphasizes that PICA violates standards set in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, which requires firearm restrictions to align with historic American traditions of gun regulation.
“The banned firearms are widely used for lawful purposes like home defense and sporting — and are precisely the types of arms the Second Amendment protects,” said C.D. Michel, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, in the filing.
The lawsuit names Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly as defendants, and it stems from an earlier ruling in the Southern District of Illinois (Case No. 3:23-cv-215-SPM).
What Happens Next?
The Seventh Circuit Court will now consider the arguments from both sides. While no final ruling date has been set, legal experts say this case is likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court if conflicting rulings persist across federal circuits.
In the meantime, the enforcement of PICA continues, with existing firearm owners required to register banned weapons or remove them from the state.
Should Illinois be allowed to ban AR-15-style rifles, or does this cross a constitutional line? Do current laws strike the right balance between rights and safety?
Join the debate now at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
