On Wednesday, several sheriff’s agencies in Illinois stated they would not implement the new gun law enacted this week by Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker. Several types of rapid-fire rifles, handguns, 50-caliber firearms, and various accessories are instantly prohibited by law.
Pritzker signed the “Protect Illinois Communities Act” into law earlier this week at a ceremony at the State Capitol in Springfield, hours after House Democrats secured final approval and less than a day after Senate Democrats passed the plan.
The local news reported that Pritzker declared his plan to sign the measure that evening so that it would take effect immediately.
Legal experts have warned that the new Illinois law will drastically limit the rights of law-abiding residents. Many Republicans in Congress were against the bill because they believed it would do little to reduce crime and would go against Second Amendment judgments made by the Supreme Court.
Local sheriff’s departments have promised residents that they would not enforce the state’s new legislation, which would have required all gun owners in Illinois to register their guns.
Sheriff Rob McMillen wrote a letter to the people of Greene County, pledging to uphold their rights by his “morals, values, and convictions.”
According to McMillen, when faced with such laws, law enforcement and prosecutors are “put in a hazardous box” and must decide whether or not to implement a law passed by a legislative body. But as your Greene County Sheriff, I have a responsibility to speak out against laws that restrict my constituents’ liberties and defend them against a government that attempts to do away with those liberties.
Recently banned firearms are still allowed to be retained on private property under the new law.
All three believe that United States citizens have the right to bear arms for “defense, liberty, and property.” As a result, they all made statements saying their agencies wouldn’t be conducting any searches or arrests related to the law.
Officials “believe that this legislative overreach will not stand,” according to a statement posted by Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor and State’s Attorney Tom Haine.
However, the message assures readers that “we remain committed to reducing violent crime.” Therefore, “the Madison County Sheriff’s Office will not use its limited resources to examine whether otherwise law-abiding gun owners have registered their guns with the State” until the courts give further instruction. Similarly, “the Madison County Sheriff’s Office will not arrest or detain otherwise law-abiding persons only due to non-compliance with [the statute].”
If municipal authorities do not execute the new regulation, Pritzker threatened to employ state law enforcement in a news conference on Tuesday.
To paraphrase what Pritzker said, “the fact is that the state police is liable for enforcement.” The author says that if the employees don’t “really perform their work or they will not be in the job,” they will be fired.
The Devore Law Office has announced it would sue Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly over the state’s new firearms law.
Attorney for Illinois citizens Thomas Devore told The Daily Wire that two lawsuits are now being filed contesting the validity of the state’s new statute.
According to DeVore, the Supreme Court must “finally stop it” when it comes to the Illinois state court and legislature “continuing to disrespect the three readings requirement of the constitution blatantly.”
According to Devore, the Illinois prohibition on “assault weapons” and large capacity magazines is unconstitutional because it gives strong unions an exception. It is unacceptable to treat citizens differently.
The limitation on gun sales and transfers is seen as an overreach, and lawyers hope the Supreme Court will rule against the new legislation since it conflicts with existing U.S. Supreme Court precedents addressing Second Amendment rights.