Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case on Connecticut Gun Ban

The Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging a gun ban in Connecticut Monday, sidestepping the debate on gun control yet again.

The ban, enacted in 2014, applies to semi-automatic guns like the one used in Orlando last week. Despite a challenge to the constitutionality of this ban, SCOTUS decided not to weigh in.

The Connecticut ban was created in response to the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 and replaced a federal ban that expired in 2014.

Since the Supreme Court won’t hear the case, the decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit that “because the prohibitions are substantially related to the important governmental interests of public safety and crime reduction, they pass constitutional muster,” will stand and the ban will remain in place.

THANK YOU SCOTUS for upholding the weapons ban, confirming that it’s not unconstitutional to ban AR-15 & other assault style #guns. #ENOUGH

— DorkPrincess (@Nu_Age_Girl) June 20, 2016

This isn’t the first time the gun debate has been turned away from the Supreme Court steps. In fact, SCOTUS has not taken up a case concerning civilian weapons since District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008, when the court ruled that individuals can keep guns in their homes for self protection.

@sawsharee @Hope012015 Living in California I’m handcuffed & shackled just for being a resident. #2A #Constitution

— imjustsaying ✏️ Cruz (@tellthetruuuth) June 20, 2016

SCOTUS’s reluctance to get involved is nothing new, but its refusal is just one more spark in the flame for activists trying to fight firearms with fire.

Samantha Reilly

Samantha Reilly is an editorial intern at Law Street Media. A New Jersey native, she is pursuing a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. Contact Samantha at SReilly@LawStreetMedia.com.