Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Rifle Association is sounding the alarm over a house bill that would criminalize the ownership of currently legal guns and accessories.

“By now most of you know about HB5855 and its terrible provisions.  I have been getting lots of calls and emails so I will reiterate the data points in a different way,” ISRA’s Richard Pearson  said in an Executive Directors Message.

“Remember, if HB5855 goes nowhere this year, it will be back next year with a different bill number.

“Here is what HB5855 does:

• HB5855 bans over 100 types of common rifles, pistols, and shotguns that many people own. 

• HB5855 bans firearms with certain features.  This is for future use and in case they missed any on their list.

• HB5855 takes away your right to own these common types of firearms or firearms with certain features.

• HB5855 takes away your right to own their definition of so-called assault firearms 300 days after the bill is signed.

• HB5855 forces you to register listed firearms with the government.  Registration is always a prelude to confiscation.

• HB5855 forces you to pay the government $25 or sell your firearm out of state.

• HB5855 bans the possession of magazines and sale of magazines over 10 rounds.

• HB5855 turns anyone owning any of these magazines into a felon on the Governor’s signature.

• HB5855 bans every firearm that could be turned into an “Automatic Firearm”.    

• HB5855 bans everything that would make a firearm shoot faster.  Bump stocks and “switches” would be included.

• HB5855 bans people under age 21 from getting a FOID card and prevents them from exercising their Second Amendment Right.

• HB5855 bans people under 21 from hunting alone.”

“I know you are angry.  You and I have done nothing wrong, but we are the point of their attack.  What can you do?”

Dan Eldridge gun dealers’ association Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois is warning HB5855 would criminalize ordinary Illinoisans. 

“I would say it’s somewhere between two and 10 million magazines, and it’s a massive impact,” Eldridge 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.” 

“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.”

State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) sponsored the bill. Morgan’s HB5855 would make the possession of several types of firearms and accessories illegal.

“Makes it unlawful to manufacture, deliver, sell, or purchase or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, or purchased or cause to be possessed by another, an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge. Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly possess an assault weapon, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge 300 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, except possession of weapons registered with the Illinois State Police in the time provided. Provides exemptions and penalties. Prohibits the manufacture, delivery, sale, purchase, or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices,” the bill’s synopsis reads in part. 

The bill was referred for a hearing in the rules committee where it will likely see debate in January. It has picked up over 20 Democrat co-sponsors since being filed.

Illinois already has the sixth most restrictive gun laws in the country and some of the worst instances of gun violence. HB5855 would likely mean the most restrictive environment for lawful gun owners in the history of the country.

Morgan was at the Highland Park shooting in July where seven were killed and more than 48 wounded after a gunman opened fire. In that instance, the alleged gunman, Robert Crimo III, was issued a gun permit by the Illinois State Police despite having red flags on his record for mental illness and instances of violence, which many are calling a failure of the governor’s office. 

“Had the Pritzker administration done what they said they were going to do, which was to review and make sure laws already on the books were being implemented more effectively, the tragedy in Highland Park might never have occurred,” Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) said in a statement.