Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down New Jersey's AR-15 Ban

The 3rd Circuit ruled the state's semiautomatic rifle and large-capacity magazine bans violate the Second Amendment.

A federal appeals court declared New Jersey's ban on AR-15-style rifles and large-capacity magazines unconstitutional, in what gun-rights advocates called a landmark Second Amendment victory.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the state's semiautomatic rifle ban and its restrictions on high-capacity magazines, according to Fox News. The National Rifle Association called the ruling a "historic victory."

The decision adds New Jersey to a growing list of states where bans on popular semiautomatic rifles have faced successful legal challenges in recent years, as federal courts continue to grapple with how to apply the Supreme Court's expanded Second Amendment framework to state weapons restrictions. It was not immediately clear whether New Jersey officials plan to appeal.

— Compiled from reporting by Fox News.