Editing Colt AR-15 (section)

==Legality==
The Colt AR-15 is banned by name in California with a list of additional AR-style and AK-style firearms in the ''[[Kasler v. Lockyer]]'' Assault Weapons List. This list deems the Colt AR-15, as well as the [[ArmaLite|Armalite]] AR-15, [[Bushmaster XM-15]], [[DPMS Panther Arms|DPMS Panther]], and many other AR-pattern rifles as [[assault weapon]]s by name, thus illegal to own/possess in the state of California.<ref>[https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf Kasler v. Lockyer Assault Weapon List] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230325133454/https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf Archive])</ref>

New Jersey passed its own [[Assault weapons legislation in the United States#New Jersey|assault weapon ban]] in 1990, becoming the second state to ban the firearm by name after California. New Jersey's ban also included any firearm with similar functional or cosmetic features, and many toys and imitations that are aesthetically similar.<ref>{{cite act |url = https://repo.njstatelib.org/bitstream/handle/10929.1/10175/L1990c32.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live |title = New Jersey Assault Weapon Ban of 1990 (state archive) |language = en |date = {{date|1990-05-30|mdy}} ||access-date= 2023-03-27|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327051535/https://repo.njstatelib.org/bitstream/handle/10929.1/10175/L1990c32.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|archive-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref> This legislation is still standing as of March 2023 (with additions to the ban over time).

Connecticut passed its original assault weapon ban in 1993, becoming the third state to ban the firearm by name.<ref>https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/rpt/2013-R-0241.htm</ref>

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed by [[United States Congress|Congress]] on August 25, 1994, largely mirroring the more restrictive aspects of the legislation found in the three preceding state-level bans. This was a 10-year ban on many firearms by name, including the Colt AR-15. The ban expired on September 13, 2004, in accordance with its sunset clause (which required satisfactory evidence of a positive impact on crime for renewal of the ban).

While the aforementioned federal ban was still active, four states followed suit with assault weapon bans of their own (including Maryland).<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulated Firearms |url=https://mdsp.maryland.gov/Documents/Regulated%20Firearms.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726143030/http://mdsp.maryland.gov/Documents/Regulated%20Firearms.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-26 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |publisher=[[Maryland State Police]]}}</ref> One state enacted this legislation after the federal ban's expiry. Two states have also enacted restrictions on ownership without specific bans thereof.

[[Washington, D.C.]], also has an effective ban on the ownership and possession of the Colt AR-15.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Requirements for Firearms Registration {{!}} mpdc |url=https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/general-requirements-firearms-registration |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=mpdc.dc.gov}}</ref>