A coalition of Illinois gun rights organizations has filed a lawsuit challenging Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker's newly enacted ban on assault-style firearms, calling the legislation an unconstitutional overreach that infringes on Second Amendment rights. The Illinois Gun Rights Alliance announced Tuesday it has retained firearm law specialists to contest the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which Pritzker signed into law last week, prohibiting the sale and possession of certain rifles, pistols, and high-capacity magazines.
Legal Battle Reflects National Divide
"This new law is divisive, unenforceable, and offers dubious efficacy as a crime-fighting tool," said group spokesman Mandi Sano, calling the ban a "dangerous infringement on the rights of the lawful citizen." The legislation mirrors bans in states like California and Connecticut, though its future remains uncertain following the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which struck down restrictive concealed carry laws and emphasized that gun regulations must align with "this Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation."
At least 85 of Illinois' 102 county sheriffs, including McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman, have publicly refused to enforce the law. Tadelman stated that enforcing the ban would violate his duty to uphold the U.S. Constitution. "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 arrested solely for non-compliance of this act," he said.
Enforcement and Consequences
Pritzker dismissed the sheriffs' stance as "political grandstanding," warning that those who refuse to enforce the law "won't be in their job" much longer. The governor cited Chicago's record-high crime rates to justify the ban, asserting it will curb gun violence. However, critics argue the law disproportionately impacts law-abiding residents. Illinois residents who own newly banned firearms must register them by Jan. 1, 2024, or risk a Class 2 Felony charge.
Kourtney Redmond, Illinois state director of the National African American Gun Association, called the ban a "danger" to Black residents, who she said would be left vulnerable in self-defense scenarios. "You're hindering people from being able to defend themselves," Redmond said, noting that criminals are unlikely to comply with magazine capacity limits. In 2022, 76% of Chicago's gun homicide victims were Black, according to city data.