McLean County Times

Carl Wenning, Communications Manager of McLean County Republican Party, expressed concerns about the Protect Illinois Communities Act, stating that it "will criminalize otherwise law-abiding citizens for doing nothing." He argued that the act does not improve public safety and instead targets law-abiding gun owners who refuse to register their weapons. Wenning also raised concerns that registration could potentially lead to gun seizure by the government.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act, signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker on January 10, 2023, regulates the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in Illinois. It went into effect immediately upon signing. Individuals who possessed these prohibited items before the act took effect are required to submit an endorsement affidavit through their Firearm Owner's Identification Card account.

To assist in the identification of assault weapons, the state of Illinois has prepared a guide for law enforcement officers, firearms dealers, and the general public. The Illinois State Police has created this guide in accordance with the law.

Registration for high-powered guns owned before the Illinois ban began this month. Owners are required to register their firearms by January 1, 2024, and failure to do so can result in misdemeanor charges for a first offense and felonies for subsequent violations.

Registration must be completed online through the Illinois State Police's Firearms Services Bureau website. Gun owners need to provide their email address, driver's license or state ID, and FOID card to create an account. The endorsement affidavit, which gun owners must submit, requires information such as the make, model, caliber, and serial number of their firearms.

The state police estimate that there are approximately 2.4 million FOID card holders in Illinois, but the number of people who possess banned guns under the new law is unknown.

The gun ban in Illinois has faced legal challenges, with gun rights advocates arguing that it violates equal protection rights under the Illinois Constitution and the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. A federal challenge on Second Amendment grounds is pending before a federal appeals court in Chicago, while the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the law in August.

Enforcement of the law's gun registration requirements remains uncertain. Earlier this year, 90 out of Illinois' 102 county sheriffs issued letters stating that they would not enforce the law, believing it to be a violation of the Second Amendment.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act was prompted by a mass shooting in Highland Park in 2022. The law prohibits the delivery, sale, import, and purchase of over 100 assault weapons, including semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and handguns. It also bans the delivery, sale, and purchase of high-capacity magazines and devices known as "switches" that increase the firing rates of firearms.

In summary, the Protect Illinois Communities Act has sparked controversy among Republicans in Illinois who argue that it criminalizes law-abiding citizens and infringes on their Second Amendment rights. The act aims to regulate the sale and distribution of prohibited firearms, and registration for high-powered guns owned before the ban has begun. However, enforcement and legal challenges surrounding the law remain uncertain.