More and more gun shops in Illinois dip their toes back into the waters of selling popular self-defense rifles, shotguns and handguns – along with the magazines to feed them. Some vendors were slow to come around – wanting to run it by their attorneys. Others, employing good, old-fashioned common sense, started selling these guns and mags Friday afternoon.
A number of people have contacted me about shops – including some well-known large facilities – who refused to sell ARs and standard capacity magazines. Foot traffic at those locations was usually short-lived as people found local gun shops willing, even eager to sell the guns that JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly banned back on January 10th.
(The Center Square) – Illinois gun owners are celebrating a victory in federal court as a judge has blocked the state from enforcing its new gun and magazine ban, but some local bans still apply…
Friday in federal court, Southern District of Illinois Judge Stephen McGlynn ruled in favor of four plaintiffs groups to block the law.
“We want to thank Judge McGlynn for issuing his ruling today,” Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson said. “We have said from day one that this law is unconstitutional and infringes on the rights of legal firearm owners in our state.”
The state has filed for an appeal and for a motion that McGlynn reverse his decision pending appeal.
In his order issuing the preliminary injunction Friday, McGlynn said Illinois’ ban doesn’t consider previous U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
“The Supreme Court in [New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen] and [Heller v. DC] held that citizens have a constitutional right to own and possess firearms and may use them for self-defense. PICA [the Protect Illinois Communities Act] seems to be written in spite of the clear directives in Bruen and Heller, not in conformity with them,” McGlynn wrote. “Whether well intentioned, brilliant, or arrogant, no state may enact a law that denies its citizens rights that the Constitution guarantees them.”
Gun Owners of America’s Luis Valdes said the judge’s ruling is a win for gun owners in Illinois.
“We are now on the offensive footing. We are now able to prove that ‘hey, this is constitutional,’” Valdes told The Center Square. “We the people have the right to keep and bear arms. We have the right to own firearms. We have the right to own AR-15s. We have the right to own standard capacity magazines, not these neutered 10-round only magazines…”
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, who sponsored the legislation enabling the ban, was disappointed with McGlynn’s decision, but his office noted other elements of the law are intact.
“This injunction does not impact the prohibition on rapid-fire devices, the interstate firearm trafficking strike force, or extension of the duration of a firearm restraining order established under [House Bill 5471],” Morgan’s office said.
I hate to break the bad news to this man who the State of Illinois submitted as an “expert” in court filings trying to defend this unconstitutional law, but McGlynn’s ruling strikes the whole thing, sweetheart.
Bless your heart, Bob.
“This injunction does not impact the prohibition on rapid-fire devices, the interstate firearm trafficking strike force, or extension of the duration of a firearm restraining order established under [House Bill 5471],” Morgan’s office said.
Sorry, shitwit. Your unconstitutional law is enjoined. As a ‘legislator’, you should have some comprehension as to what legal terminology means. We know that tube steaks like you don’t really write any of the garbage you put your names on – you let lobbyists do that for you, and collect large bribes to do so.
I would like to believe that this is the end of it, but that of course is foolish. We have a long road ahead, and probably a very short window free of the ban for now. I would like to know if this stops the clock on the requirements such as registration.
I tried ro celebrate at Scheels last night and apparently their legal beagles are all working for the Illinois Attorney General’s office. They still aren’t selling. That’s fine. I bet my local gun store will sell. A shame. C’mon Scheels.
Some online stores are selling formerly prohibited items and some aren’t. It seems to be hit or miss and you just have to shop around.