U.S.

Federal Judge Upholds Massachusetts Assault Weapons Ban

The judge said assault weapons "are simply not weapons within the original meaning of the individual constitutional right to 'bear Arms.'"

Federal Judge Upholds Massachusetts Assault Weapons Ban
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A federal judge decided to uphold Massachusetts' ban on assault weapons.

U.S. District Judge William Brown said in his ruling Friday that assault weapons and large capacity magazines "are simply not weapons within the original meaning of the individual constitutional right to 'bear Arms.'"

The decision dismisses a lawsuit the Gun Owners' Action League of Massachusetts and other groups filed last year challenging state law. The suit claimed the ban infringed on their Second Amendment rights.