IL assault weapons ban challenges dismissed by downstate judge after state Supreme Court ruling

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- A downstate judge in Effingham County has dismissed a group of lawsuits that challenged Illinois' assault weapons ban.

Last week the Illinois Supreme Court found the law is constitutional, ruling that the Protect Our Communities Act does not violate the federal Constitution's guarantee of equal protection of the law nor the state constitution's bar on special legislation.

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The lawsuits were brought by attorney Thomas DeVore, who called the dismissal "premature and in error."

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The court also decreed that state Rep. Dan Caulkins, a Decatur Republican, a Decatur pawn broker and like-minded Macon County gun-owners who brought the lawsuit had earlier waived their claims that the law infringes on the Second Amendment to own firearms and could not raise it before the Supreme Court. It's a claim Caulkins' attorney vehemently denies.

The Second Amendment claim is alive, however, in several federal lawsuits filed in southern Illinois, later consolidated and awaiting appeals court action.

READ MORE: Federal judge denies TRO against Illinois assault weapons ban for Naperville gun store owner

The Associated Press contributed to this report.