The bench trial for the challenge to Illinois’ gun and magazine ban continues in East St. Louis. Illinois enacted a ban on semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023.

Plaintiffs called their final witness in the federal trial challenging Illinois’ assault weapons ban Wednesday, and the case could go to the judge as early as Thursday.

Throughout four days of testimony, a central issue has been whether the weapons and equipment covered under the law are commonly used in American society for lawful purposes such as self-defense, and thus protected under the Second Amendment, or military-grade weapons that state and local governments can more easily keep out of civilian hands.

SPRINGFIELD — Legal wrangling over Illinois’ sweeping gun ban is set to resume Monday in East St. Louis, where a federal judge will consider a challenge to the constitutionality of a law that is almost two years old and has so far withstood a barrage of challenges from gun rights advocates.

A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt,

Attorneys for the state of Illinois called their first witness to the stand in the trial against the state’s gun and magazine ban. Illinois banned the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023.