U.S. federal judge overturns California’s ban on assault weapons

A U.S. federal judge overturned California’s 32-year-old ban on assault weapons on Friday, describing it as a “failed experiment” and prompting scathing criticism from the state’s governor and attorney general.

California has prohibited the sale of assault weapons since 1989. The ban was challenged in a 2019 lawsuit against California’s attorney general by plaintiffs including James Miller, a state resident, and the San Diego County Gun Owners, a political action committee.

“This case is about what should be a muscular constitutional right and whether a state can force a gun policy choice…