McLean County Times

Rep. Dan Caulkins shared an update in a Feb. 8 Facebook post on his lawsuit on the state's new gun ban.

Caulkins filed the lawsuit in late January, in his personal capacity as an Illinois resident. Other plaintiffs in the case include Law Abiding Gun Owners of Macon County, Perry Lewin and Decatur Jewelry & Antiques, Inc., according to a press release Caulkins shared on Facebook.

“We won. Judge Forbes grants temporary restraining order to the members of 'Law-Abiding Gun Owners of Macon County.' More information coming soon,” Caulkins said on Facebook.

Caulkins was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. A Republican, his legislative experience includes serving on the Public Utilities and Prescription Drug Affordability committees. Caulkins is a state representative who resides in Decatur, according to the Illinois House.

Vandalia Radio reported that an additional 2,100 individuals are now protected by a temporary restraining order against the state's newest gun ban, which was signed into law in January.

According to the Cook County Record, Macon County Judge Rodney Forbes issued a temporary restraining order that does not allow the state to enforce the new gun control law.

"The court further finds 'special legislation and equal protection challenges are judged by the same standard," Forbes said. "Accordingly, the court is required by precedent to enter a temporary restraining order on Count IV (equal protection) and Count V (special legislation) of plaintiffs' complaint."

Illinois attorney Thomas DeVore also filed a challenge to the state's new gun law and won a restraining order in late January. DeVore's case included 862 plaintiffs, according to KFVS.

DeVore also intervened in Caulkins' lawsuit, according to WGLT.org. DeVore contends that the contributions solicited for Caulkins' legal defense fund for the lawsuit are going to the state representative's campaign fund.

“Dan should have gone to law school is what I would tell him, and he didn’t,” DeVore said. “I find it odd that a politician would solicit funds from citizens for legal defense of a law like this and then have them submit them to his campaign account.”