SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) – The U.S. Supreme Court will not yet take up the case challenging Illinois’ assault weapons ban.

The court had the opportunity to decide whether or not to keep the law in place while the rest of the litigation plays out, but with this decision, the law remains in effect. This means that the sale of certain guns and accessories in Illinois will continue to be illegal, and anyone who previously owned one of those guns will have to register it with the state.

Supporters of the law celebrated on Tuesday.

“Everything was really affirmative and consistent with what we've been saying all along, which is that these laws are legal and constitutional and that they're effective,” said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Highland Park).

The decision not to hear this case does not mean that the Court will not revisit it at a later date.
Judge Clarence Thomas issued a statement on the decision and called the law “highly questionable”
and Justice Alito said he would like to ultimately take the law's case to court.
The State Shooting Association sees this as a positive sign.

“We will not give up on this case,” said Executive Director Richard Pearson. “This law is wrong. It affects many people in Illinois and should be repealed.”

But Morgan, the main initiator of the law, said the concerns of these judges in particular were to be expected.

“If nine or five justices had agreed with Justice Thomas, we would have had a different decision today,” Morgan said. “It shows that the majority of the court is not made up of real gun extremists.”

The two sides will meet in September for a hearing in federal court in southern Illinois, where the case will determine whether the law is constitutional or not.

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