Dupage Policy Journal

Jim Kaitschuk, executive director of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association (ISA), said the organization is concerned about a bill signed by Gov. JB Pritzker banning most assault-style rifles.

House Bill 5471 bans the purchase of any of the more than 170 different semi-automatic firearms and magazines over a certain capacity, a recent report by the Center Square said. But several sheriffs across the state have refused to enforce the bill. 

“Many sheriffs across the state indicated their concern about this legislation passing and ultimately being signed into law and infringing upon the rights of those legal gun owners across the state,” Kaitschuk said in the report. “What the organization did is we filed an amicus brief in support of those efforts challenging House Bill 5471.”

The brief was filed in federal court.

“The ISA supports efforts to make Illinois and all of its citizens safe, but it also recognizes that those efforts must be within the bounds set by the Constitution,” Kaitschuk said. “HB 5471 crosses those bounds, and in doing so, demands that sheriffs enforce a law that deprives the law-abiding citizens they serve of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes, including sport and self-defense. Because law enforcement should never be compelled to violate the constitutional rights of Illinois citizens, the ISA supports Plaintiffs’ action to enjoin the implementation of HB 5471 and to have the statute declared unconstitutional.”

Kaitschuk said there are several elements of the law that they are concerned about, pointing to a requirement that gun owners register with the Illinois State Police, identifying themselves as assault-weapon owners. The registry is expected to launch on Oct. 1.

The federal judge ordered the state to respond to a motion for preliminary injunction by March 2, as well as to allegations the law violates the Second Amendment by March 16, the report said. Oral arguments are set to begin on April 12 in East St. Louis, Ill.