Thursday, March 28, 2024

Illinois Governor Signs Assault Weapons Ban Into Law

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Democrat Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill banning “assault weapons” in his state.

The legislation, known as the “Protect Illinois Communities Act” seeks to immediately ban “the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in IL.”

Earlier this week, the legislation was passed through both chambers of the Illinois legislature.

After the bill passed in the Illinois , the Institute for Legislative Action at the National Rifle Association urged pro-gun advocates in the state to contact their Representatives, asking them to oppose the legislation which contained the following provisions:

“House Bill 5471, as amended, bans many semi-automatic firearms that law-abiding citizens commonly own for self-defense, competition, and recreation, as well as certain spare parts for them, bans handgun magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition, long gun magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition, and “combination[s] of parts” from which such magazines can be assembled, bans .50 BMG caliber firearms and ammunition, and expands the duration of the state's “red flag” firearm restraining order by increasing it from 6 to 12 months. The list of banned firearm models is more comprehensive than in the bill the House previously passed.

Citizens may only lawfully keep their banned firearms or banned parts if they register them with the . They may keep banned magazines owned prior to the ban, but may only use and possess them under certain conditions, such as on private property and at shooting ranges. The magazines also must be transported unloaded and enclosed in cases. Owners of banned magazines must notify state police to transfer them to heirs, out-of-state individuals, and licensed firearm dealers. The bill also requires individuals to hold a FOID to possess banned magazines.”

Public reaction to Pritzker signing the legislation has been mixed.

Conservative Congresswoman Mary Miller – a Republican representing Illinois' 15th Congressional District – stated that the “ban blatantly violates” rights in a tweet shared last night.

However, Mayor Lori Lightfoot celebrated the measure in a series of tweets shared on her official Twitter page, saying that the passage of such legislation has “been a must-have priority … on behalf of the residents of Chicago.”

Lars Dalseide, Spokesman for the National Rifle Association told American Liberty News the following today when asked about the ban, and any further action that his group plans to take:

“An ‘assault weapons' ban in Illinois will do nothing to reduce violent or enhance public safety, but it will prohibit law-abiding Americans from exercising their rights. AR-15s are the most popular rifle in America and millions use them daily for a variety of lawful purposes. In addition, less than 2 percent of all crimes are committed with these firearms. It's time for politicians to hold criminals accountable for their actions and leave law-abiding Americans alone. Rest assured, the will fight this unconstitutional ban.”

Other states such as Colorado are also looking at passing “assault weapons” bans this year, and some in the federal government including President have advocated for a national ban.

Statistics previously reported by the Department of Justice in a 2004 study showed that the federal ban which was in place from 1994 to 2004 had no measurable impact on crimes.

READ NEXT: Colorado Democrats Plot to Introduce Assault Weapons Ban, GOP Chair Fights Back

Victoria Snitsar Churchill
Victoria Snitsar Churchill
Victoria Snitsar Churchill is a proud immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen with a decade of experience in grassroots politics and community organizing. Her writing has been featured in many online publications, including Campus Reform, The Daily Torch and The Daily Signal. As an undergraduate at the University of Kansas, Victoria appeared in media outlets such as CBS News, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, The Blaze and NRATV. Victoria is also a former NCAA D1 student-athlete and Kansas College Republicans State Chair. After moving eleven times in six years, Victoria resides in Arlington, Virginia and enjoys overpriced brunch on Sundays with her husband.

9 COMMENTS

  1. Illinois Governor guilty of 25.34 MILLION Federal Felonies. Read 18 USC Sections 241 and 242. That is two Felonies per citizen of Illinois! BTW, the punishment is 10 years in JAIL and a Million Dollar Fine per Felony!

  2. Anyone notice the recent surge by the communist dems regarding GUN legislation? The communist are AFRAID of the people. They are in fear of us armed Americans rising up against these oppressors and getting payback for how bad they have treated American citizens. YOU damn right, it’s PAYBACK TIME.

  3. Just trash being trash and going after those who’ve done no wrong. When are you going after your punk street buddies who ARE killing people???

  4. I spent over 60 years in Cook County, Illinois. I worked for the City of Chicago when Mayor Richard J. Daley was the BOSS! I can say, for a fact, that Corruption was Rampant and Well Documented! Now we have the Entire State of Illinois RUN by the SAME Corrupt to the Core Democrat Party. Only the Names are Different. Mayor Lightweight and Governor Prickster were created by the same Daley Democrat Machine that gave us a numerous Lying, Cheating and Stealing Political Hacks!

    There is a Reason why these Criminals want to take away our guns! Why!

    They are afraid that Honest, Decent Law Abiding Citizens will turn their guns on them!

  5. The word “assult weapon” appearse that it’s being used VERY BROADLY…when you look up the word “assult”..it say’s:”to make a physical attack on “…and a “weapon” is anything that can be used to defend oneself against an attack. These laws are an “assult weapon” against our freedoms to protect ourselves from an attack…We the people need to stop these political law breakers…and inform that their breaking constitutional laws…and hold accountable.

  6. Thus dies the right to self-defense in Illinois. No wonder citizens are leaving the state in droves. How quaint and fitting: JB Prickster mightily resmbles the gangster Jabba the Hutt.

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