Chicago's Morning Answer host, Dan Proft, recently highlighted the evolving legal battle over Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s semi-automatic rifle ban, urging owners to take note of litigation regarding the ban.
“IL owners of semi-auto sport rifles, take note on status of litigation again Gov. Jelly Belly's ban. Good summary here from @GunWashington. 1/1/24 registration deadline. Two issues raised in amended complaint filed outlined. MPI coming...stay tuned,” Proft said on X.
Washington Gun Law President William Kirk addressed the Illinois gun ban in a recent video noting the Federal Firearms Licenses of Illinois v Pritzker lawsuit that challenges the State of Illinois’ Protecting Illinois Communities Act which outlawed over 170 types of semi-automatic firearms.
Those purchased before the Act’s enactment in January 2023 are grandfathered in but under state law must be registered at $50 per gun.
“The plaintiffs in this case, which were originally challenging the constitutionality of the ban of semi-automatic rifles, have asked for leave from the court to amend their complaint,” Kirk said in the video.
“They want to add additional counts. They want to make further arguments. The court has granted that motion, and I have seen a copy of the amended complaint. And the amended complaint now for the first time, substantiates several constitutional challenges to Illinois's firearms registration requirements. Specifically in their motion for leave of the court to amend the complaint, the plaintiffs stated.”
Kirk and Washington Gun Law have launched a “Countdown to Confiscation” counting down to Jan. 1, 2024 under which the State of Illinois has noted it will confiscate firearms not registered under the gun ban.
“I think this thing is going to play out to a rather ugly end here,” Kirk said.
“The law currently says that you have to register these firearms no later than January 1st of 2024, or failure to do so will subject you to criminal penalties. But there's also been talk that it's going to subject you to confiscation and forced forfeiture of these firearms.”
“Things are going to get really interesting over the next couple of months that we're going to continue to do our ‘Countdown to Confiscation.’ And every week or two we'll just check in and see what the Illinois State Police is reporting as far as compliance numbers. But as we mentioned, we believe that compliance is going to be incredibly low and it's going to be a real challenge for Illinois law enforcement about what they're going to do about that."
State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) who has voiced concerns about the Protecting Illinois Communities Act and the potential resistance from gun owners in the state.
Halbrook noted in a recent hearing that “hundreds of thousands of people absolutely will not comply” with a registry of those firearms as a federal appeal is being considered.
Darren Bailey, a candidate for Congressional District 12, called the ban "preposterous" and the gun registry "un-American," emphasizing the protection of constitutional rights and individual liberties.
“Our Second Amendment rights are under attack, but they are not up for negotiation. To those who believe we will quietly comply with a gun registry, I have one clear message: you couldn’t be more wrong,” Bailey said on Facebook.
Bailey pledged to resist any attempt to disarm law-abiding citizens, asserting that the fight for Second Amendment freedoms is non-negotiable.
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