{"id":2490037,"date":"2025-09-23T12:16:01","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harmeet-dhillon-argues-against-illinois-gun-ban-in-rare-court-appearance\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T12:18:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:18:02","slug":"harmeet-dhillon-argues-against-illinois-gun-ban-in-rare-court-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harmeet-dhillon-argues-against-illinois-gun-ban-in-rare-court-appearance\/","title":{"rendered":"Harmeet Dhillon argues against Illinois gun ban in rare court appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fharmeet-dhillon-argues-against-illinois-gun-ban-in-rare-court-appearance%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2490037&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, made a rare courtroom appearance before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge Illinois&#8217; comprehensive assault weapons ban. This law, enacted in 2023 after the Highland Park parade shooting, prohibits the sale of rifles like the AR-15 and limits magazine capacities. Dhillon argued that the federal government must ensure the Second Amendment is upheld as a fundamental right. She criticized the court&#8217;s prior decision supporting the ban, saying it misapplied Supreme Court precedent from the New York State Rifle &#038; Pistol Association v. Bruen case, emphasizing that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/20-state-ags-oppose-bidens-nominee-for-atf-director-because-of-his-extreme-positions\/\" title=\"20 State AGs Oppose Biden\u2019s Nominee For ATF Director Because Of His \u2018Extreme Positions\u2019\">commonly owned firearms<\/a> are constitutionally protected despite being labeled &#8220;risky&#8221; or &#8220;unusual.&#8221; the appeal, supported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-judge-rules-against-local-second-amendment-sanctuary-laws-says-sheriffs-who-allow-them-are-racist\/\" title=\"Oregon Judge Rules Against Local Second ... Sanctuary ...s, Says Sheriffs Who Allow Them are \u201cRacist\u201d\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/expert-warns-biden-has-launched-four-prong-attack-against-second-amendment-advises-how-to-respond\/\" title=\"Expert Warns Biden Has Launched \u2018Four-Prong Attack Against\u2019 Second ..., Advises How To Respond\">gun rights groups<\/a> including<\/a> the NRA, contests the law&#8217;s constitutionality on Second Amendment grounds. The case, which involves scrutiny from judges appointed by Presidents Reagan, Trump, and George W. Bush, is part of a broader effort by the Trump-era DOJ to challenge state firearm restrictions. A ruling from the appeals court is anticipated later in the year, amidst similar challenges nationwide that may eventually prompt Supreme Court review. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Harmeet Dhillon argues against Illinois gun ban in rare court appearance<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2166493\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon<\/a>&nbsp;took an unusual step on Monday by arguing before the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/7th-circuit-court-of-appeals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals<\/a>, challenging the constitutionality of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illinois\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Illinois<\/a>&lsquo;s sweeping assault weapons ban and rejecting the court&rsquo;s previous reasoning for upholding the law.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon, a longtime constitutional litigator and prominent figure in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration&rsquo;s Justice Department<\/a>, spoke for around five minutes during oral arguments in downtown Chicago. She asserted that the federal government has an overriding duty to ensure the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/second-amendment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Second Amendment<\/a>&nbsp;is &ldquo;not treated as a second-class right.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3819179\/trump-ally-assumes-virginia-prosecutor-post-after-letitia-james-case-scuffle\/\">Trump ally assumes Virginia prosecutor post after Letitia James case scuffle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3818038\/north-carolina-irynas-law-crime-consequences-charlotte-light-rail-stabbing\/\">North Carolina weighs &lsquo;Iryna&rsquo;s Law&rsquo; toughening crime consequences after rail stabbing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3815926\/ryan-routh-begin-trial-attempted-trump-assassination\/\">Ryan Routh to begin his case in trial over attempted Trump assassination<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Oral arguments are underway in Barnett v. Raoul, the NRA-backed challenge to Illinois&rsquo; unconstitutional ban on commonly owned firearms and magazines.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t miss <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AAGDhillon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AAGDhillon<\/a>&#8216;s remarks explaining why this ban violates the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>WATCH LIVE: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5Y6Xp4Kxn2\">https:\/\/t.co\/5Y6Xp4Kxn2<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VkPCwm7o8H\">pic.twitter.com\/VkPCwm7o8H<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NRA (@NRA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NRA\/status\/1970202150979383764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The federal interest here is significant,&rdquo; Dhillon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k-rjlGZ9oHk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>, arguing that the court&rsquo;s 2023 decision upholding the law rested on a flawed interpretation of Supreme Court precedent, particularly the&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2882136\/supreme-court-rules-new-yorks-strict-concealed-carry-law-is-unconstitutional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York State Rifle &amp; Pistol Association v. Bruen<\/a><\/em>  ruling. &ldquo;Firearms in common civilian use are clearly protected, and courts cannot sidestep that by calling them &lsquo;dangerous&rsquo; or &lsquo;unusual.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>At issue is a challenge by gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, against a law signed by Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/j-b-pritzker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JB Pritzker<\/a>&nbsp;(D-IL) in early 2023 following the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/highland-park-shooting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Highland Park parade shooting<\/a>, which left seven people dead. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/documents\/legislation\/102\/HB\/10200HB5522.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The statute bans<\/a> the sale of rifles such as the AR-15 and limits magazine capacities to 10 rounds for long guns and 15 for handguns. While Pritzker has called it a landmark achievement for public safety, critics say it criminalizes commonly owned firearms and violates the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon&rsquo;s remarks came during a 90-minute session before Judges Frank Easterbrook, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan; Michael Brennan, appointed by President Donald Trump; and Amy St. Eve, appointed by former President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n<p>Her appearance underscored the Trump DOJ&rsquo;s growing commitment to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dismantling state-level firearm restrictions<\/a> through aggressive litigation. While it is not uncommon for the federal government to submit amicus or &ldquo;friend-of-the-court&rdquo; briefs in favor of third parties, it&rsquo;s rare for political appointees to argue on behalf of a private litigant.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Easterbrook, who co-authored a 2023 opinion that rejected gun rights groups&rsquo; request to enjoin the law, pressed Dhillon sharply on whether any factual findings by lower courts, such as those establishing the law&rsquo;s public safety rationale, would change her constitutional view.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Suppose the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-asian-discrimination-appeal-harvard-talks-out-of-both-sides-of-its-mouth\/\" title=\"In Asian Discrimination Appeal, Harvard Talks out of Both Sides of Its Mouth\">district court found<\/a> every fact in favor of the state &mdash; would it matter?&rdquo; he asked.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon responded, &ldquo;It would not, your honor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Easterbrook shot back, &ldquo;So you don&rsquo;t think the facts matter?&rdquo;, prompting Dhillon to clarify, &ldquo;Facts matter in law, of course. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3054847\/supreme-court-gun-precedent-upheld-despite-thomas-dissent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">But under&nbsp;<em>Bruen<\/em>, history<\/a> &mdash; not balancing tests or policy determinations&mdash;guides constitutional analysis.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>St. Eve also scrutinized both sides, asking an attorney for the plaintiffs whether the prevalence of AR-style rifles in mass shootings affects their legal status.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Every weapon is dangerous in the wrong hands,&rdquo; attorney Erin Murphy replied, &ldquo;but that doesn&rsquo;t strip them of constitutional protection.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Illinois&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kwame-raoul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Attorney General Kwame Raoul<\/a>, a Democrat whose office is defending the law, attended but did not speak. Lawyers for his office argued that the banned weapons are more akin to military-grade firearms and therefore outside the scope of the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon countered that view directly, arguing the 7th Circuit&rsquo;s previous logic is &ldquo;out of step&rdquo; with the Supreme Court&rsquo;s developing framework. She echoed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Clarence Thomas<\/a>, who has warned that bans on widely owned civilian rifles may be ripe for Supreme Court intervention.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3814155\/gun-groups-ask-court-to-overturn-perilous-precedent-in-suppressor-registration-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>GUN GROUPS ASK COURT TO OVERTURN &lsquo;PERILOUS PRECEDENT&rsquo; IN SUPPRESSOR REGISTRATION CASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although the 7th Circuit initially shunned pro-gun litigants seeking to stall the law pending further litigation, the current phase of the lawsuit is handling the actual constitutional merits and is considering whether to uphold or overturn U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn&rsquo;s November ruling that the law is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p>A decision by the appeals court is expected later this year. Similar challenges to bans in California and New Jersey are also advancing through the courts, increasing the likelihood that the justices will eventually weigh in.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Harmeet Dhillon challenges Illinois assault weapons ban in court<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2490038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/dillon-washington-catholic.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[41004,52020,46467,63901],"class_list":["post-2490037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-court-appearance","tag-gun-rights-2","tag-harmeet-dhillon","tag-illinois-gun-ban"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/dillon-washington-catholic.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2490037"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2490041,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490037\/revisions\/2490041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2490038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2490037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2490037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2490037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}