Raoul Defends Illinois Weapons Restrictions Before Supreme Court

CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined a coalition of attorneys general in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold state and local restrictions on certain types of weapons. The brief supports Cook County and Connecticut as the court prepares to hear arguments Dec. 2 in two cases challenging restrictions on AR-15 style rifles. The cases are Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, with a decision expected by the end of the court’s term in summer 2027. The attorneys general argue that governments have a long history of regulating weapons considered unusually dangerous and that some weapons restrictions are consistent with the Second Amendment. Cook County has regulated specific firearms since 1993 and strengthened its ordinance in 2006. Raoul was joined by attorneys general from 17 other states and the District of Columbia.