Two Steps Forward; Potentially Many Back In Illinois

As I reported yesterday, Gov. Bruce Rauner (R-IL) did the right thing and vetoed SB 1657 - the Gun Dealer Licensing Bill. However, there are many more bills out there that need to die. Moreover, the anti-gun forces are attempting to repeal the state law that pre-empts local regulation of firearms. You can imagine the regulations that would be enacted by Chicagoland politicians in the city and the suburbs.

On another note, kudos to the Iroquois County Board for its pro-Second Amendment resolution. The county is located in northeastern Illinois between Chicago and Champaign-Urbana on the Indiana border.

Illinois Carry has sent out this alert. If you are an Illinois resident, contact your representative and senator. Now.

Governor Rauner Vetoes Gun Dealer Licensing Calls for Bipartisan Solutions After a full court press, all hands on deck, Katie bar the door effort by the anti Second Amendment legislators in Chicago, Governor Rauner, with a stroke of his pen, has undone the heinous firearm dealer licensing bill. We've been working with the Governor and his staff from day one for just a time as this. IllinoisCarry has taken him at his word and with this, the worst gun bill to hit an Illinois governor's desk in decades, he has proven his mettle. IllinoisCarry extends our sincere thanks to the Governor, and to our members who supported him while considering this difficult, but well reasoned, decision. But the fight isn't over! We expect anti-gun Chicago legislators to attempt an override of the Governor's veto, and to pass several other pieces of legislation. An amendment has been filed on HB1465 "Assault Weapon" ban Under 21 proposing an "affirmative defense" for our youth who participate in shooting sports with adults.  This is a poor attempt to make shooting sports illegal for our children while seemingly addressing our concerns. An amendment was filed on HB1467 Bump Stock & Trigger Crank Ban to now include the repeal of state preemption of local gun law, turning a bill that some considered an acceptable loss into election year theater. New momentum was given SB2314 Assault Weapons - Municipality, the inspiration for elimination preemption, and SB2317 Crim Cd Trigger Modification,  yet another flavor of bump stock ban. Call Your State Senator! Tell your Senator to vote against any attempt to override Governor Rauner's veto of SB1657 Gun Dealer Licensing. Also urge your state Senator to vote No on the following bills and any amendments to these bills: HB1465 "Assault Weapon Under 21 HB1467 Bump Stock & Trigger Crank Ban SB2314 Assault Weapon - Municipality SB2317 Crim Cd Trigger Modification Contact information for your legislators can be found here. ###

Iroquois County Board Passes Pro-Second Amendment Resolution! Tuesday night, Mar. 13th the Iroquois County Board voted to adopt the following resolution supporting lawful gun owners in Illinois.  We encourage other counties to adopt similar resolutions, and ask each of you to share a copy with your county board members! Copies of the resolution and contact infromation can be found here. RESOLUTION of the COUNTY BOARD OF THE COUNTY OF IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS Resolution opposing the passage of HB1465, HB 1467, HB1468, HB1469, SB1657, any trailer bill, or any bill similar too, or any bill where the 100th Illinois General Assembly desires to restrict the Individual right of US Citizens as protected by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution WHEREAS, the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms is guaranteed as an Individual Right under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and under the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and; WHEREAS, the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms for defense of Life, Liberty, and Property is regarded as an Inalienable Right by the People of Iroquois County, Illinois, and: WHEREAS, the People of Iroquois County, Illinois, derive economic benefit from all safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting, and shooting conducted within Iroquois County using all types of firearms allowable under the United States Constitution and; WHEREAS, HB1465 is a violation of the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution requiring responsible persons under 21 to surrender lawfully owned firearms or face becoming instant felons; fails to define how to relinquish firearms; only allows possession at Sparta shooting complex, but fails to provide similar exemptions for recreational shooting at gun clubs, private ranges or under supervision of responsible adult or parent, unless certified as a firearms instructor; WHEREAS HB1467 is violation of the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution requiring persons to immediately relinquish lawfully owned bump stocks or trigger cranks, while also failing to provide where and how to relinquish firearms devices, thus creating instant felons upon passage; WHEREAS HB1468 contains broad and unclear definitions which will cause confusion amongst firearm owners and dealers as to which type of firearm is subject to 72 hour wait period; bans nonresidents from purchasing certain long guns defined loosely as assault weapons, puts dealers in jeopardy of unknowingly violating the law; WHEREAS HB1469 is violation of the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution requiring persons to immediately relinquish lawfully owned magazines, fails to provide how to properly relinquish banned magazines, creates instant felons if enacted as written, creates conflicts allowing for sale to out of state persons while stating possession is a felony, bans body armor worn as protection for those who employ the use of chain saws, motorcyclists, range officers and firearm instructors, shop owners and employees who work in dangerous neighborhoods or during night shifts; WHEREAS SB1657 and trailer bills will create economic hardship on lawfully owned and operated, small business firearm dealerships, in effect forcing them to close; will create undue burdens and price increases on persons to lawfully purchase firearms; will have a direct negative impact on local economies thru job loss and sales tax loss; will create another layer of burdensome government regulation on top of the heavy Federal regulations; imposes new fees on top of existing Federal license fees; WHEREAS, Iroquois County Board, being elected to represent the People of Iroquois County and being duly sworn by their Oath of Office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and; WHEREAS, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate, being elected by the People of the State of Illinois and being duly sworn by their Oath of Office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and; WHEREAS, The Governor of Illinois, being elected to represent the People of the State of Illinois and being duly sworn by your Oath of Office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and; WHEREAS, proposed legislation, any bills similar to, under consideration by the Illinois State Legislature would infringe the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and would ban the possession and use of firearms, magazines, body armor now employed by individual citizens of Iroquois County, Illinois, for defense of Life, Liberty and Property and would ban the possession and use of firearms now employed for safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting and shooting conducted within Iroquois County, Illinois; WHEREAS, the proposed legislation potentially violates the 5th Amendment failing to provide just compensation under the takings clause, 8th Amendment imposition against excessive fines and punishments on law abiding citizens by punitive forfeiture/relinquishment of lawfully owned property, and Ex Post Facto Law Clause of the United States Constitution. NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE AND IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the People of Iroquois County, Illinois, do hereby oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the Right of the People to keep and bear arms and consider such laws to be unconstitutional and beyond lawful Legislative Authority. BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED, that the Iroquois County Board demands that the Illinois General Assembly cease further actions restricting the Right of the People to keep and bear arms, and hereby demand that the Governor of Illinois veto all such legislation which restricts the Right of the People to keep and bear arms. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of Iroquois County is hereby directed to prepare and deliver certified copies of this Resolution to all members of the Illinois General Assembly and to the Office of the Governor. ###