Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee is seeking funds to fight what some are calling unconstitutional legislation that would severely restrict gun owners' rights in the state. 

HB5855 saw its third hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 20 and will advance to the House floor. 

The committee urges the public to assess how the bill would impact their lives: “Look hard at them and ask yourself how much is it worth to you to keep your guns and for your neighbors to keep their guns. How much is it worth to you to stop our government from disarming law-abiding patriots. Then, make a tax-deductible donation for as much as you can handle so you can help us defend your right to keep and bear arms in Illinois."

“Illinois House Bill 5855 could be voted on as soon as next month and the pro-2A group does not have anywhere near enough votes to stop it,” the ISRA Legal Assistance Committee said in an email. “And there won’t be a veto by the governor that pressed to have the bill written to begin with. For many years we’ve talked about gun registration and confiscation - well, it’s finally going to happen.” 

The committee highlighted the effect of HB5855 if it becomes law including an outright ban of every "magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds. There’s no buyback and there’s no grandfather clause. Those of you who shoot competitively will have to turn all those mags into the Illinois State Police; Virtually all semi-automatic firearms including pistols, rifles, and shotguns and fifty caliber firearms; FOID cards to anyone under the age of 21 unless they are in the U.S. military." It also added that, “There is a grandfather clause for pre-existing firearms such as your favorite AR-15. The grandfather clause is simple: surrender it to the Illinois State Police or register it with the Illinois State Police by make, model and serial number charged to your name and address – yes, gun registration is slated to start in the State of Illinois as early as 2023.” 

“Here’s the deal, if the State of Illinois passes HB5855, we will take them to court," the ISRA Legal Assistance Committee stated. "I guarantee you, that is going to cost some serious money, as much as a million dollars in the long run. We are not asking you to donate any specific amount, we are asking you to go look at your gun collection be it one gun for home protection or a gun room full of collectibles.”

Abraham Avalos, a survivor of the Independence Day parade shooting who rushed to the aid of others on the scene, spoke during the second hearing of the bill, Lake County Gazette reported. He said he left his pistol in his glove compartment that day in accordance with the law. Avalos said the alleged gunman, Robert Crimo III, obviously did not follow the current laws put in place. “I've always known that there's always going to be people who obey laws,” he said. “There's people who are not going to obey laws. There's people who are going to have respect for life. And there's people who are not going to have respect for life. I know that as a gun owner, because that's why I carry. That's why I'm a gun owner, to protect my life, the lives of my family members, the lives of all of my friends and other people. That's why I'm a gun owner.”  

He also called out the bill's sponsor State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), who was also at the parade. “I understand why you guys support this bill. I understand (this legislation) coming from Bob Morgan. You are a nice person. The times that I met you, you really are. I understand why you think that this bill is going to help. It's not. I hate to say it to you, in my personal belief." 

At the Dec. 15 hearing, along with Avalos, 26-year-old Chicago resident Andrew Guadarrama reminded lawmakers that despite a firearms ban in Chicago guns persisted. “Chicago had a firearms ban that lasted over 20 years and crime still persisted. The people would not save lives as people with ill will will still commit them. Criminals do not follow laws. To disarm the people would not defend Illinois communities,” he said according to Chicago City Wire.

ISRA is one of several gun rights groups that have readied lawsuits to stop the legislation from being enacted should it be signed into law. 

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Sterling) said the bill is unconstitutional. “While HB 5855 is likely far from in its final form, the constitutionality of the bill will certainly go before the courts,” McCombie told Prairie State Wire.