CHICAGO (October 21, 2024) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of its final reply brief with the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Viramontes v. Cook County, Ill., its federal Second Amendment lawsuit challenging the county’s ban on so-called “assault weapons.” The brief and case files can be viewed at firearmspolicy.org/viramontes.
“Cook County’s brief is notable for what it does not do,” argues the brief. “It does not dispute that AR-15-style rifles, which the County bans, are the most popular rifles in the country and one of the most popular firearms of any type. It does not dispute that the modern, semiautomatic AR-15-style rifle has ‘traditionally … been widely accepted as [a] lawful possession.’ And it does not dispute that the semiautomatic rifles are both ‘bearable’ and preferred for purposes of self-defense by millions of law-abiding Americans. Those salient points are enough for Plaintiffs to win this case[.]”
“Our brief thoroughly refutes Cook County’s arguments defending its unconstitutional and immoral ban on so-called ‘assault weapons’. We look forward to eliminating this law and every other ban like it throughout the United States,” said FPC President Brandon Combs.
The Viramontes case is part of FPC’s high-impact strategic litigation program, FPC Law, aimed at eliminating immoral laws and creating a world of maximal liberty. FPC is joined in this litigation by two individual FPC members and the Second Amendment Foundation. FPC thanks FPC Action Foundation for its strategic support of this FPC Law case.
Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube.
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