A federal appeals court in the United States has upheld an Illinois law banning semiautomatic weapons, overturning a previous lower-court ruling that deemed the ban unconstitutional.The decision, issued by the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, affirmed that the state's restrictions on firearms, including AR-15 rifles and large-capacity magazines, are consistent with the principles of firearm regulation under the Second Amendment.

The ruling comes amid ongoing debates over gun control, with the law being a response to a 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, where a gunman killed seven people during an Independence Day parade.

Democratic Governor JB Pritzker praised the decision as a victory in the fight against gun violence, while the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a firearms industry group, expressed disappointment and plans to seek Supreme Court review.

The case highlights the tension between public safety concerns and Second Amendment rights, with the appeals court emphasizing the role of elected representatives in shaping firearm regulations.The law, enacted in 2023, faced immediate opposition from county sheriffs and gun advocates, leading to legal challenges.The Supreme Court is set to address similar bans in the coming months, potentially reshaping the landscape of gun control legislation in the U.S.