Quote:A federal judge Friday overturned California's three-decade-old ban on assault weapons, ruling that it violates the constitutional right to bear arms.

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego ruled that the state's definition of illegal military-style rifles unlawfully deprives law-abiding Californians of weapons commonly allowed in most other states and by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Under no level of heightened scrutiny can the law survive," Benitez said. He issued a permanent injunction against enforcement of the law but stayed it for 30 days to give state Attorney General Rob Bonta time to appeal.

Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the decision, calling it "a direct threat to public safety and the lives of innocent Californians, period."

In his 94-page ruling, the judge spoke favorably of modern weapons, said they were overwhelmingly used for legal reasons.

"Like the Swiss Army knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment. Good for both home and battle," the judge said in his ruling's introduction.

Spoiler:

(06-06-2021, 05:51 PM)Boudica Wrote: California has banned assault weapons for 30 years?

Spoiler:

Something tells me banning weapons isn't actually helping? Might be time to look into the route causes of these shootings. Take away a gun, and they'll just use a bomb. Putting a band-aid on one leak in a flood isn't stopping the flood.

(06-06-2021, 05:53 PM)Dismas Wrote:

(06-06-2021, 05:51 PM)Boudica Wrote: California has banned assault weapons for 30 years?

Spoiler:

Something tells me banning weapons isn't actually helping? Might be time to look into the route causes of these shootings. Take away a gun, and they'll just use a bomb. Putting a band-aid on one leak in a flood isn't stopping the flood.

It's almost like making more laws doesn't stop the criminals...