As part of its recently filed lawsuit challenging the legality of the state licensure law enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is also seeking a temporary restraining order that prohibits enforcement of Senate Bill 337, also know as the Gun Dealer Licensing Act.
ISRA Executive Director Richard A. Person recently made members aware of the organization’s actions in a bulletin, adding that the organization plans to seek a permanent injunction if the temporary action is granted by the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial District in Sangamon County.
SB 337 requires federally licensed gun dealers to obtain a state license to sell firearms at a cost of up to $1,500 over three years. At issue is the way the bill was passed in the 100th General Assembly but never sent to the desk of then-Gov. Bruce Rauner by supporters of the measure over fears he would veto it.
ISRA Executive Director Richard A. Pearson
“The political gamesmanship to get this legislation signed into law is appalling,” Pearson said in the bulletin. “Rules and deadlines apparently mean nothing to advocates for gun control. Senate Bill 337 should have died in the 100th General Assembly and as a result, we are left with no choice but to challenge this terrible new law in court. The federal government already licenses gun dealers. All this does is create more red tape and increase the cost of doing business.”
ISRA argues the law is already having an impact, pointing to a recent Center Square report that found only around half of the 2,351 federally licensed firearms dealers in Illinois had applied for state licenses as of mid-June. Pearson stated in the bulletin that more than 1,200 local businesses had also closed as a result of the new law.
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