Dupage Policy Journal

Lombard gun range and store manager Anthony Colonna hears the frustration of many of his customers who want to purchase guns but cannot due to a new state law that took effect in January.  

“You get all the people that now want guns and you can't sell them. It's made doing business a little harder," said Colonna, who manages the Article II Range. "We haven’t taken as much of a financial hit as other gun stores because we also do training. Retired law enforcement come here to recertify, so we're not just gun sales. Some places that only do sales have suffered a lot more.”

He's also concerned about the judicial system's review of the law.

“My opinion is I don't understand how some judges can [say it's] not legal and others uphold it as legal,” he said. “That seems strange to me, like a lot of party politics have become involved. The law should be the law, period. I don't understand why the constant attack on the Second Amendment.”

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted a ban on firearms and magazines, including over 170 semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines, on Jan. 10. 

The ban is now facing pushback from sheriffs who represent both political parties as many declare that they will not enforce the ban claiming it goes against the Second Amendment, according to the Center Square. 

“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,” Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk said to The Center Square. “What the organization did is file an amicus brief in support of those efforts challenging House Bill 5471.”

Under the new law, individuals who own guns that appear on the banned list are allowed to retain possession of them, but must register their firearms with the Illinois State Police by Jan. 1, 2024. Failure to comply may result in a Class 2 felony charge, according to WTVO. The registry opens on Oct. 1.