By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, alongside Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, is leading a multistate coalition in support of Cook County, Illinois, as it defends its assault weapons ban from a Second Amendment challenge.
The coalition, representing 19 states, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, urging the court to uphold a March 2024 ruling that affirmed Cook County’s authority to regulate assault weapons within its borders.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of balancing Second Amendment rights with public safety.
"We can respect the Second Amendment while implementing commonsense firearms restrictions that promote public safety," he said. "Weapons intended for wartime use, designed to inflict mass casualties, were never meant for self-defense."
Cook County first regulated assault weapons in 1993 and later strengthened these laws in 2006 with the Blair Holt Assault Weapons Ban, named after a 16-year-old boy killed in a shooting aboard a Chicago bus.
The brief highlights the role of assault weapons in mass shootings and asserts that such firearms are not protected by the Second Amendment, as they are not commonly used or suitable for self-defense.
The amicus brief argues that states and local governments have the right to enact restrictions on dangerous weapons to protect public safety.
Assault weapons, such as AR-15s and AK-47-style rifles, are considered particularly dangerous due to their capacity for catastrophic injuries in mass shootings.
New Jersey and Massachusetts, which have implemented similar gun safety laws, have a history of working together on issues related to assault weapon regulations.
In 2023, both states led several briefs supporting restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Other states joining the brief include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.