The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked a federal judge's controversial ruling that overturned California's longtime ban on assault weapons.
A three-judge panel on the federal appeals court issued a stay of US District Judge Roger Benitez's order earlier this month that overturned California's three-decade old assault weapons ban on Monday.
The state's current assault weapons laws will remain in effect while further proceedings continue.
"We won't stop defending these life-saving laws," wrote Attorney General Rob Bonta in a tweet after the decision was announced.
Benitez controversially said in his ruling on June 4 that, "Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment."
Benitez gave the state 30 days to challenge the ruling and Bonta filed an appeal less than a week later,
The 9th Circuit court said both parties will file a status update within 14 days.
Related
