United States: Judge overturns California assault weapons ban

A gunsmith fixes the butt of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle after cleaning it in South Portland, Maine on Thursday, April 2, 2015. Portland Press Herald via Getty - Portland Press Herald

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A federal judge on Friday overturned the California assault rifle ban, a law in place for three decades.

The governor of that state, Gavin Newsom, immediately condemned the decision, which comes amid an upsurge in gun-related homicides in the United States. 

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According to Federal Judge Roger T Benitez, the ban on assault weapons does not comply with the Constitution which allows every American citizen to carry a weapon.

The judge estimates in his argument of nearly 100 pages that this type of weapon is authorized not only in the majority of the States but also by the Supreme Court.

“ 

Weapons and ammunition in the hands of criminals, tyrants and terrorists are dangerous.

It is best to leave them in the hands of responsible and law-abiding citizens 

, ”he said.

And the judge adds: “

 Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular semi-automatic AR-15 rifle can be used as well to defend its home as its homeland.

 " 

An opinion rejected by the governor of Califonia who has 30 days to appeal this decision. Gavin Newsom again recalled the reason for the ban on assault weapons more than 30 years ago: they are more dangerous than others because they are frequently used in mass shootings. "

 We are not backing down from this fight and we will continue to fight for gun laws that go the right way and save lives,

 " he said in a statement.

The announcement comes amid heightened violence in the United States and just over a week after an employee of a public transport company killed eight people at his company's California site before giving himself up. dead.

A search of the home of the shooter - burned down shortly before the attack - found 12 firearms, 22,000 ammunition and supposed Molotov cocktails.

The increase in shootings in recent months is such that the

USA Today

newspaper

denounced a few days ago " 

a culture of assassination 

" which is said to be taking hold in the country.

According to federal authorities, more than a million guns are sold each week in the country.   

See also: United States: after the Boulder massacre, Biden calls for the ban on assault rifles

Carrying Firearms in Supreme Court this Fall

In the fall, the United States Supreme Court is set to consider an appeal by the powerful NRA gun lobby against a New York law restricting the carrying of firearms outside one's home.

It will be the first time in more than a decade that the country's highest court will consider a major case involving the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

This amendment, which is the subject of divergent interpretations, states that "since 

a well-organized militia is necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to hold and bear arms will not be violated.

 ".

For

supporters

of firearms, it guarantees a right to carry weapons for every citizen.

Others, however, consider that the authors of the Constitution only wanted to protect the right to possess and use weapons within the framework of a force of maintenance of order, like the army or the police force.

In the United States, the coronavirus pandemic has certainly reduced violence at work - with citizens staying at home - but gun sales have skyrocketed.

► See also: Joe Biden calls on Congress for firearms reform

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