Sheriffs and State Attorneys from a myriad of Illinois counties released statements rejecting the Protect Illinois Communities Act signed by Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday.
Over 50 county sheriffs and State Attorneys released statements reiterating their support and defense of the Second Amendment since Tuesday's signing, Mom at Arms documented.
"The Illinois Sheriff's Association is extremely disappointed in the passage and enactment of HB 5471, that further regulates and limits the purchase of a variety of weapons for lawful gun owners," reads a statement from the association. "The ISA has opposed this legislation throughout its development and remains opposed to the bill as passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor."
"We, as a representative of chief law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, are very concerned and disturbed by the ongoing and escalating violence throughout our State and Country," the statement continued. "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 voilence on others. However, this new law does not do that."
"This act is a direct attack and infringement of our right to keep and bear arms as guranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution," reads a statement from Office of the State's Attorney Union County, Tyler E. Tripp. "I am currently working with other State's Attorneys to organize and challenge this effort to erode our constitutional rights. I will pursue any and all reasonable mesures under the law to protect our community from those who would take our absolute right to keep and bear arms."
The bill ends the manufacture, delivery, sale, import, and purchase of "assault weapons," though allows the possession and legal use of existing "assault weapons" by a person who legally obtained them prior to the bill's date of effect, so long as the weapon is endorsed with Illinois State Police by Jan 1, 2024.
The bill also Immediately bans the manufacture, delivery, sale, or purchase of magazines more than 10 rounds for long guns and more than 15 rounds for handguns.
"For the past four years, my administration and my colleagues in the State Capitol have been battling the powerful forces of the NRA to enshrine the strongest and most effective gun violence legislation that we possibly can," said Gov. JB Pritzker after signing the bill banning the sale and distribution of "assault weapons," high-capacity magazines, and switches in Illinois on Tuesday.
"Gun violence anywhere is a threat to wellbeing everywhere. In Illinois, lawmakers, advocates, and gun violence survivors stood together and worked for decisive, protective change," said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton.
"This moment is the result of the dedication and leadership of hundreds of survivors, advocates and organizations that lent their voice to this fight to help enact what is now one of the strongest pieces of gun safety legislation in the country," said Protect Illinois Communities Chair and President Becky Carroll.
