Federal appeals court rules New Jersey's assault weapons ban unconstitutional

A federal appeals court has ruled New Jersey's long-standing bans on "assault firearms" and magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds unconstitutional. The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 10-5 decision on Friday, July 17, 2026, determined that the state's restrictions violated the Second Amendment under the "history and tradition" test established by the Supreme Court's 2022 *Bruen* decision. The court found that both semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines are considered "Arms" protected by the Second Amendment because they are in common use.

This landmark ruling marks the first time a federal appeals court has struck down a state-level assault weapons ban, creating a significant legal precedent. The decision intensifies the ongoing national debate surrounding gun control legislation. New Jersey's Attorney General has expressed disagreement with the ruling, while gun rights advocates have hailed it as a major victory.

The timing of this decision is particularly notable as the U.S. Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear challenges to similar assault weapons bans enacted by other states, including Illinois and Connecticut. This divergent ruling at the appellate level sets the stage for what could be a pivotal review by the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of such widespread firearm restrictions.