With mass shootings increasing like never before, calls have gotten louder for a national assault

weapons ban.

President Biden raised the idea of trying to pass an assault weapons ban after two mass shootings

in a week, but he'll likely face an uphill battle in Congress.

California is way ahead of the curve.

Back in 1989, the state adopted the country's first assault weapons ban.

With a few exceptions, it made the sale, transfer, manufacturing, and importation of all semi-automatic

rifles illegal.

But after the recent mass shootings in Monterey Park in Half Moon Bay, California's ban is

facing renewed scrutiny

by a federal judge who's tried to overturn the law.

It is ruling the U.S. District Judge wrote, like the Swiss Army knife, the popular AR-15

rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment.

For years, Judge Roger T. Benitez has been at the center of challenges and appeals to the state's assault weapons ban.

And now, he could issue another major blow to California's landmark gun law.

I'm Gustavo Ariano. You're listening to The Times.

Essential News from the LA Times.

It's Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Today, how one judge has usurped California's efforts to restrict guns

and how recent challenges to California's assault weapons ban

could potentially weaken national efforts at gun control.

My LA Times colleague, Lara J. Nelson, is an investigative and enterprise reporter who profiled Judge Benitez in 2021, along with Christina Davis, who's currently the enterprise editor

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