Judge Strikes Pittsburgh Ban on Use of AR-15s, ‘High Cap’ Magazines

The Allegheny Court of Common Pleas on Monday struck down Pittsburgh’s ban on the use of AR-15s inside city limits.

Breitbart News reported Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (D) signed the ban on AR-15 usage April 9, 2019. WJAC reported other aspects of the gun control banned “most uses of armor-piercing ammunition and high-capacity magazines.” The controls signed by Peduto were also intended to allow guns to be seized from individuals via a Red Flag Law.

WESA reported Allegheny County Judge Joseph James found all the controls “void and unenforceable,” due to the state’s preemption statute.

A preemption law means a city or municipality is barred from passing gun controls that exceed those existing at the state level.

BREAKING: @NRAILA applauded the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas for protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners in Pennsylvania. In the NRA-backed case, the court found that Pittsburgh's attempt to impose local gun control was a violation of state law. https://t.co/ZNkQhg1HCy

— NRA (@NRA) October 29, 2019

The NRA-ILA’s Jason Ouimet praised the ruling, saying, “This is a huge victory for law-abiding gun owners and everyone who values freedom in the Keystone state. Cases like this underscore the peoples’ need for judges who will faithfully interpret the law in defense of their rights and liberties.”

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. Sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.