Washington, D.C., December 14, 2023 – Today, for the second time, the Supreme Court denied a gun industry request to halt an assault weapons ban in Illinois and a ban on the commercial sale of assault weapons in the City of Naperville. Both bans were passed in response to the deadly mass shooting at a 4th of July parade in Highland Park last year. The request was considered by the full Supreme Court, and no Justice noted a dissent from the denial. The matter should now return to the district court for further proceedings. Brady, a national gun violence prevention organization, serves as counsel for the City of Naperville in the lawsuit.
Brady President Kris Brown stated:
“The Supreme Court’s refusal to block this ban is a victory not just for the State of Illinois and the City of Naperville, but for all communities who have been held hostage by the gun industry. The gun industry has lined its pockets by perpetuating one of the deadliest public health crises in American history. Just like big tobacco and the creators of opioids, they have a pattern of putting profits over people, and just like those companies were held accountable, we’re gaining momentum to put them in their place.
“Not one Justice said publicly that they thought this law should be blocked at this stage. The absence of any noted dissent illustrates just how misguided the gun industry’s attempts to undermine the state’s efforts are. We are grateful that while this case is being litigated, the assault weapons ban will stay in effect and continue to save countless lives in Illinois and surrounding states.
“Brady is proud to represent the city of Naperville against the gun industry. Weapons of war have no place in our communities, and this decision has moved us closer to an America free from gun violence.”
Brady Chief Legal Officer Douglas Letter stated:
“States and cities should have the right to stop these weapons of war from decimating our communities. Period. The gun industry has employed every tactic possible to stop this life-saving ban on assault weapons. Today, the Supreme Court took the wind out of their sails.”
“ Let’s be clear, assault weapons were designed with one purpose: to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Brady will not stop fighting for the city of Naperville’s right to protect their citizens from these weapons of mass destruction that are over and over again responsible for the senseless slaughter of Americans.
“This battle will now take place in the district court, and we will fight valiantly to uphold this hard-won local law that shields citizens from the devastation caused by assault weapons. We will not back down.”
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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