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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Legal challenges to Illinois' semiautomatic weapons ban began Wednesday with a federal complaint that the 8-day-old law prohibits “commonly possessed” and constitutionally protected guns. A state court pleading was also filed Wednesday, questioning the law's exemptions based on a person's employment.

The state lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to stop enforcement of the law, which was inspired by the mass shooting that killed seven and injured 30 at the Highland Park July Fourth parade. The lawsuit was filed by Accuracy Firearms of Effingham, about 100 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis, and other plaintiffs. The law bans dozens of specific types of rapid-fire handguns and rifles, .50-caliber guns, attachments and limits cartridges to 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for pistols.

An emergency hearing on the restraining order was scheduled for Wednesday morning in Effingham County Circuit Court. Attorney Thomas DeVore, last fall's unsuccessful Republican candidate for Illinois attorney general, said the law is unconstitutional because of its exemptions. The ban on semiautomatic weapons does not apply to people in certain positions, such as prison guards or other law enforcement officers.

“It violates the equal protection clause because it carves out a whole section of people,” DeVore said. “They are free to do what they will based on their employment.”

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