SE Illinois News

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) has launched a petition opposing HB5855, the Protect Illinois Communities Act. 

Severin encourages the public to show their rejection of the bill and support the Second Amendment.

“(Dec. 20) is the last scheduled hearing on HB 5855 - legislation deemed as an 'assault-weapons' ban by its sponsors,” Severin said on Facebook. “The bill would severely hamper law-abiding citizens' rights to bear arms and protect themselves and their families. You can sign my petition opposing this bill at the link below!”

The petition has been signed by 1,383 so far.

“As a State Representative, I’m calling out the unconstitutionality of sweeping legislation critics have said will outlaw many of the guns that are legally held by Illinoisans,” Severin writes in the petition. “HB 5855 would effectively criminalize ownership of entire classes of firearms by Illinoisans.” Severin also noted HB5855 “would make law-abiding citizens currently in possession of certain unregistered semi-automatic hand guns, rifles, and shotguns into criminals, and ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. It would outlaw individual hunting for people under the age of 21 and would require a registration fee of $25 per firearm to be paid to the State of Illinois. Please show your opposition by signing the petition and supporting the Second Amendment! Together we can stop this overreach by the government.”

Opponents claim the bill may do more harm to gun control efforts than good. Guns Save Life founder John Boch spoke out against the legislation. He said that HB 5855 would criminalize the owners of semi-automatic weapons and will harbor pro-gun sentiment. “I think this bill is going to be what’s gonna wake up the sleeping giants who say ‘hey, no, we’ve had enough. You never are satisfied by taking little pieces so we’re going to take a bigger chunk of the pie back this time,’” Boch told WMAY, according to Lake County Gazette. “(Bill sponsor Rep.) Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) is going to lose in court, and not only is he going to lose this, but I anticipate he’s going to get a whole lot of Illinois gun laws that are currently on the books struck, and that’s going to lead to a much safer society for all of us from criminals.”

Critics have argued the legislation will have little effect on criminals while criminalizing law-abiding Illinoisans. “I would say it’s somewhere between two and 10 million magazines, and it’s a massive impact,” Dan Eldridge, of gun dealers’ association Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois told The Center Square. “These are the standard magazines that come with a duty-sized pistol even, they’re the standard magazines that come with a rifle. These are not aftermarket extended capacity magazines.” He added that “With an immediate effective date, mere possession of a – and I’m not going to use their words, I’m going to use accurate words – mere possession of a standard-capacity magazine is a crime. There’s no getting around that. So you’ve got Second Amendment issues. You’ve got Fourth Amendment issues. You’ve got Fourteenth Amendment issues. You can’t do this.”