The US Supreme Court will hear challenges to Connecticut and Cook County bans on AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles.The cases test whether the Second Amendment protects possession of semiautomatic rifles after the court's 2022 expansion of gun rights and the Bruen framework.Connecticut tightened its ban after the Sandy Hook massacre, and Cook County's nearly 20-year ordinance bars many semiautomatic rifles and magazines over 10 rounds with criminal penalties.Lower courts have largely upheld the restrictions as consistent with historical analogues, and Justice
Brett Kavanaugh signaled interest in taking the questions to the high court, with arguments set for the term beginning in October.