McLean County Times

District 88 House candidate, Chuck Erickson, voiced his thoughts on a unique appeal recently via Facebook.

“This is a different appeal than the one that went through the Illinois Supreme Court,” Erickson said on Facebook.

“This is the appeal filed by various gun rights groups that went through the federal courts. I would rather have the US Supreme Court hear the federal case but will take either. The federal case deals more with substantive issues whereas the state case is more about procedural issues. But like I said, either works at this point. We must not give up our 2nd Amendment rights.”

The case, originating from Naperville, specifically questions the constitutionality of the state and city’s gun and magazine ban. Plaintiffs are urgently seeking an appeal to the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling, contending that the prohibited firearms are commonly used for lawful purposes, rendering the law unconstitutional.

According to a report from Center Square, the plaintiffs brought their arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court stating: "The court held that Plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the Act is likely unconstitutional … But as noted, the banned firearms and magazines are in common use for lawful purposes, and the Act is clearly unconstitutional under Heller and Bruen."

The Supreme Court has ordered the state to respond to the plaintiffs’ motion by Dec. 6, with a deadline for registering banned items with the state police set for Jan. 1, and potential felony charges for non-compliance. The outcome of this Supreme Court challenge could have far-reaching implications for gun rights in Illinois, and supporters are closely watching how the Court will address the constitutional arguments put forth by the plaintiffs.

State Rep., Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), expressed concerns over both potential resistance from gun owners in his state and also about this controversial gun ban during recent hearings saying: "hundreds of thousands of people absolutely will not comply" with a registry of those firearms as a federal appeal is being considered, according to Chambana Sun.

Erickson is seeking to succeed state Rep. Dan Caulkins, who has decided not to run for re-election.

House District 88, which Erickson hopes to represent, encompasses McLean, Macon, Piatt, and DeWitt counties.