Judge Overturns California’s Assault Weapons Ban, Comparing AR-15s to Swiss Army Knives

Back in the United States, a federal judge lifted California’s longstanding ban on assault weapons and declared it an unconstitutional “failed experiment.” US District Judge Roger Benitez, appointed by George W. Bush, wrote in his judgment: “Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and home defense equipment.” The judge suspended his sentence for 30 days and gave California Attorney General Rob Bonta time to appeal. Bonta wrote: “There is no solid legal, factual, or common sense basis to equate assault rifles with Swiss Army knives – especially on Gun Violence Day and after the recent shootings in our own California communities. We must now take action to end the gun violence. “