Illinois became the ninth state to establish an “Assault Weapons Ban” when its law took effect on January 10. The governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, signed a bill into law that forbids the sale of assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, and rapid-fire devices.
The Illinois Sheriff’s Association released a statement following the law’s passage, “The ISA is extremely disappointed in the passage and enactment of HB 5471, that further regulates and limits the purchase of a wide variety of weapons for lawful gun owners. We are always supportive of new tools, techniques and laws that assist us in preventing and holding accountable those that wage efforts of harm and violence on others. However, this law does not do that. We will continue to advocate on behalf of Sheriffs, all of law enforcement and the law-abiding citizens throughout Illinois.”
Assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches were all outlawed by a recent gun control measure that Governor J.B. Pritzker signed, but at least 74 sheriff’s agencies in Illinois have publicly sworn to ignore those provisions. The offices have sworn not to verify if firearms are registered with the state or to house people who have been detained solely for breaking the law.
DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said, “Therefore, as the custodian of the jail and chief law enforcement official for DuPage County, that neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arresting or housing law abiding individuals that have been charged solely with non-compliance of this Act.”
Sheriff Jeff Bullard of Jefferson County stated, “We will not be enforcing it in this county; I will also not house anyone in my jail that has violated this act because we know it to be an unlawful act by the general assembly and the governor.”
