Numerous Illinois Sheriff Departments Won’t Enforce Gov. Pritzker’s ‘Assault Weapon Ban’
“I, among many others, believe that HB 5471 is in clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution.”
Posted by Mary Chastain Friday, January 13, 2023 at 07:00pm
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law that bans something called assault weapons. Knives? Fists? Oh, guns. Those scary and spooky guns (one of which I own and love):
The legislation bans the manufacture or possession of dozens of brands and types of rapid-fire rifles and pistols, .50-caliber guns and some attachments. The law will allow gun owners to keep the guns they have now but will require them to register them with the state.
Illinois gun manufacturers can continue to make assault weapons and sell them to suppliers in other states, but may not sell them to buyers in Illinois under the new proposal.
Thank goodness many sheriff departments in Illinois have common sense. They won’t enforce this unconstitutional law.
Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker explains to WQAD News why he won’t enforce the law.
Greene County Sheriff Robert McMillen told the county citizens his oath included upholding the Illinois and U.S Constitutions, the latter containing the Second Amendment.
“The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people of the country,” wrote McMillen. “I, among many others, believe that HB 5471 is in clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution.”
McMillen concluded:
"Therefore, as the custodian of the jail and as your chief law enforcement official of Greene County, neither myself, mty deputies, not my office will be conducting or participating in any investigations or arrests, or assisting any outside agency or agencies in any investigations or arrests, concerning lawful gun owners failing to register their weapons with the State; or any other of the unconstitutional provisions contained in HB 5471. Futhermore, the Greene County Jail will not house any law-abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance of the regulations found in HB5471."
Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl’s letter echoed McMillen’s sentiments.
Kahl’s oath included upholding the U.S. Constitution, including the Second Amendment. He also thinks the law is unconstitutional.
I guess the memo outline made the rounds because Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing and Clinton County Sheriff Don Travous said their offices wouldn’t enforce the law.
The letters to the citizens are almost the exact same as the other county letters.
Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor and Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine blasted the law. But they won’t use the county’s “limited resources” to enforce the law “pending further direction by the courts.”
They know people and gun rights groups will take Pritzker to court.
St. Clair County Sheriff Richard Watson wrote of his disappointment with the passage of HB 5471. He opposed the bill from the beginning and still does not like it.
The level of violence in the country concerns Watson, but he doesn’t think laws like HB 5471 are effective tools “in preventing and holding accountable those that wage efforts of harm and violence on others.”
However, Watson does not say he won’t enforce the law despite admitting he doesn’t “believe we should limit the protections that have been guaranteed to law abiding citizens in the United States Constitution.”
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