Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee is celebrating two recent cases.

“Great news! This week we had not one but TWO favorable rulings on ISRA-supported cases,” Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee said in a press release. “Atkinson v Garland: The Seventh Circuit remanded this case back to the lower court for reconsideration. The case is a restoration of rights case. Restorative justice includes all rights, including Second Amendment rights. Hopefully, this will lead to more citizens having their rights restored after paying their debt to society. The ISRA supports the case.” 

The Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee also highlighted the Levine v UL LLC case and gave an update on an upcoming oral argument.

“The Illinois First Appellate Court ruled that the termination of an employee for proper storage of a concealed carry firearm in their vehicle, is a violation of public policy, and lead to a wrongful termination suit. Under Illinois law, a properly licensed concealed carry holder can store their firearm in their vehicle, if done in accordance with Illinois law. ISRA supported this case,” the press release reads. “With Harrel v. Raoul (AWB/LCM case) scheduled for oral arguments on June 29th, we cannot let up the pressure! The courts are siding with law abiding firearms owners again and again.”

The ISRA Legal Assistance Committee notes it is dedicated to defending the rights of gun owners against infringements on their right to bear arms, actively engaging in multiple court battles to protect law-abiding citizens. They rely on donations to fund their legal opposition against those who seek to restrict gun rights, emphasizing the importance of gun owners standing up to defend their rights. 

“When elections and legislative sessions make law-abiding citizens into criminals, the ISRA Legal Assistance Committee (LAC) steps in to defend gun owners against infringements on their right to keep and bear arms,” Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee said on its donor page. “The ISRA LAC regularly has 6 or more active court battles to defend good citizens against government oppression, and it's not cheap to keep up the fight. Will you help support the ISRA LAC with a donation to help us fund our legal opposition?” 

It also reminded that “gun-controllers are working hard to take your rights and your guns away from you. A strong defense of your rights relies totally on the generosity of gun owners like you!  If you don't stand up to defend your rights, who will?”

In Patrick Atkinson v. Merrick B. Garland, et al a 2-1 split panel in the Seventh Circuit has vacated a gun ruling and instructed a lower court to assess whether the federal ban on felons possessing guns aligns with the historical tradition of firearm regulation, according to Law360.

In Levine vs. UL LLC, Steven Levine was granted the opportunity to file a wrongful termination suit. After his vehicle was burglarized at work and two guns were stolen from it Levine was terminated from UL’s employment.

“On September 9, 2021, burglars broke into the plaintiff’s vehicle and another vehicle in the defendant’s parking lot,” the pleading reads. “The burglars stole the plaintiff’s two guns and ammunition. On October 19, 2021, the defendant terminated the plaintiff’s employment. Defendant stated the reason for the termination was the plaintiff’s obstruction of the defendant’s investigation into the burglaries by not disclosing the handguns and ammunition to the defendant’s investigators after the burglary.”

The pleading also stated that “Plaintiff alleges, in full, 'this was merely pretextual, as the real reason [plaintiff] was terminated was [defendant’s] disapproval of [plaintiff] possessing the firearms in his vehicle in the first place.' Plaintiff’s complaint alleges that the plaintiff’s termination violated public policy and Illinois law.”