The Supreme Court will hear Viramontes v. Cook County this December, contesting Cook County and Illinois bans on AR-15 semiautomatic rifles. Plaintiffs argue those rifles see common lawful use including self-defense, whereas defending governments call them more appropriate for combat than civilian settings. A Cato Institute amicus filing says the militia language in the Second Amendment favors protecting such arms regardless, placing historically typical infantry small arms at the amendment's core because the Founders allowed militia members rifled firearms superior to British troops without restriction.