The Supreme Court will review challenges to local bans on the AR-15 rifle in upcoming cases. This decision signals the Court's interest in examining firearm restrictions following recent rulings that broadened gun access. Two cases targeting AR-15 bans in Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut have been accepted for the next term. The AR- and AK-style rifles are widely owned, with an estimated 30 million in circulation. Justice Brett Kavanaugh previously indicated a readiness to consider bans on semi-automatic rifles. He argued that AR-15s, like most handguns, are used by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, including self-defense. Gun rights advocates have cited this stance and the "common use" standard from the Bruen decision to support their arguments. They contend that AR-15s meet the "common use" criteria for self-defense. Conversely, Cook County argues that assault rifles are primarily used by criminals and terrorists for mass violence. They assert that these weapons are rarely used for lawful public purposes.