US appeals court rules assault weapon ban not unconstitutional

US appeals court rules assault weapon ban not unconstitutional

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Thursday held that a Massachusetts law banning the sale, transfer or possession of an assault weapon is not unconstitutional under the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. The case was brought by Massachusetts resident, Joseph Capen, who announced that he was planning on purchasing items covered by the law for purposes of self-defense. Judge Gary Katzmann, writing for a three-judge panel, wrot…