A federal judge in East St. Louis will begin hearing arguments today (Monday) in a case challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines.

A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt,

Thursday was the final day of a trial challenging the law, passed in response to the 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park.

Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied a request by Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the policy, which would prevent license to carry holders from bringing guns onto the fairgrounds.

Attorneys for the state of Illinois called their first witness to the stand in the trial against the state’s gun and magazine ban. Illinois banned the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023.