A federal appeals court panel in Chicago ruled Thursday that Illinois’ sweeping ban on high-powered guns and high-capacity ammunition magazines can stay in place while the state contests a ruling from a downstate judge who found the law unconstitutional.

Multiple federal courts have issued contradictory rulings on Illinois' assault weapon and extended ammo magazine bans since state lawmakers enacted the bans in January 2023.

Whether Illinois should be enjoined from enforcing the state’s gun and magazine ban starting Monday is now up to a federal appeals court.

A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled that the Illinois assault weapon ban can remain in effect while the law is debated. This decision came on Thursday as lawyers representing Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and gun rights groups continue to argue over the ban,

Gun rights advocates aren’t surprised the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued a stay on a district judge’s ruling that the Illinois gun ban was unconstitutional. Southern District of Illinois Judge Stephen McGlynn issued a permanent injunction last month,

Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault weapons will remain in place until a federal court weighs in. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the injunction until they rule on the constitutionality of the law,