Pritzker pushes for national gun ban that Illinois Republican says is
unconstitutional
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[October 28, 2023]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – While Illinois’ gun ban and registry continues to
face legal challenges, the governor continues pushing for a national ban
on certain semi-automatic weapons.
Reacting to the mass shooting reported out of Maine, where a suspect
killed 18 people and injured scores of others in different locations,
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday said Illinois is doing what it can do by
banning certain types of semi-automatic firearms.
“But it is very hard if we don’t have a federal law that bans those
kinds of weapons,” Pritzker said.
But Illinois’ ban is being challenged on several fronts with cases still
pending. One plaintiffs' group is asking a federal judge to enjoin the
state’s gun registry while a challenge to the entire Illinois law is
pending in the appeals court. The state has until Nov. 6 to reply to
that motion in the Southern District of Illinois federal court brought
by the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois.
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, said the law is
unconstitutional.
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“I think ultimately the courts will rule that, so why the governor, why
the attorney general, why their legislative allies are putting
law-abiding Illinois gun owners through this circus is just frustrating
to me,” Plummer told The Center Square.
The Illinois General Assembly left the first week of veto session
without addressing Plummer’s bill to hold harmless those who purchased
firearms during a six-day window when the state was prevented from
enforcing the gun ban.
The state was enjoined by a federal judge in late April. An appeals
court stayed that, with the case still pending. The state has said
firearms purchased during that time cannot be legally registered by the
Jan. 1 deadline.
Before leaving Springfield Thursday, Plummer said his measure would, if
the law is upheld by the courts, allow those who purchased firearms
during the injunction to register.
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Illinois state Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, Thursday in
Springfield - Greg Bishop / The Center Square
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“It shouldn't matter where you stand on the Second Amendment issue, this
is just common sense legislation,” Plummer said. “Unfortunately right
now we’re not getting any traction with the other side, but there’s
still time to go before Jan. 1.”
Legislators return Nov. 7 for the last three scheduled session days this
calendar year.
Plummer said with the measure still challenged in the courts, he’s not
surprised by the low registration numbers in the first month the
registration window has been open.
“There shouldn't be a registry. This legislation is unconstitutional.
The courts will eventually rule that. The governor and the attorney
general need to quit pushing such extreme stuff. They need to fall into
line,” Plummer said.
Less than one-tenth of 1% of Illinois Firearm Owners ID card holders
have registered banned firearms, attachments and ammunition with
Illinois State Police. The deadline to register or face criminal
penalties is Jan. 1.
“ISP has updated the ISP Firearms Service Bureau webpage so when people
access their account on the FOID portal, they see an automatic pop-up
with information about [the Protect Illinois Communities Act],” a
spokesperson from ISP said when asked if the agency plans to send mail
to FOID holders about the registry requirement. “We've issued news
releases about the emergency rule for PICA, as well as the opening of
the online disclosure. We have posted routinely on social media about
the need to disclose. Additionally, we have created a video tutorial
that walks people through the disclosure process, and held a video
demonstration with many FFLs who can inform their clients. We encourage
people who do not use computers to visit one of the FOID Kiosks across
the state.”
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