Supreme Court weighs semiautomatic firearm bans in new case

The Supreme Court received over 40 amicus briefs on Wednesday in Viramontes v. Cook County, a case challenging state and local bans on modern semiautomatic firearms. The filings, submitted by various groups including religious organizations, historians, and ballistics experts, argue that the justices should allow existing prohibitions on so-called assault weapons to remain in force.

Briefs from Connecticut and Cook County cited historical precedents involving obscure weapons to support their positions, while survivors of the Parkland shooting argued that modern rifles were not contemplated when the Second Amendment was drafted. Social scientists also challenged recent survey data, asserting that AR-15-style rifles are not commonly used for lawful purposes in the constitutional sense.

Marketing experts and several major cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, filed separate briefs. The marketers claimed that deceptive advertising tactics drove the popularity of these firearms, while the cities argued that modern semiautomatic long guns are disproportionately used in violent crimes and mass shootings.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on December 2, with a decision expected in the summer of 2027.

Read the full story at AOL.com.