Before hearing arguments on the constitutionality of Illinois’ assault weapons ban on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn said he’d be “foolhardy” to think that the guns covered by the ban aren’t used for “bad things,” while also noting the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms.
Both sides of the gun issue were gathered in his East St. Louis courtroom, which the judge also acknowledged while calling for a civil debate.
“This is an important case,” said McGlynn, who was appointed to the federal bench in 2020 by then-Republican President Donald Trump. “They may see things entirely different than you do. We are fellow citizens and we want to treat (each other) with respect.”
