Prairie State Wire

Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said the Illinois Sate Supreme Court ruling upholding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s gun ban will likely be overturned in the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Today’s 4-3 decision by the Illinois Supreme Court that the assault weapons ban does not violate the constitution, was no surprise,” Pearson said in a statement on Facebook. “But gun advocates across the state should not lose hope because our federal case – the ISRA case – which we expect to go before the U.S. Supreme Court, will prove to be a victory not just for law-abiding gun owners in Illinois – but across the country. And the ISRA and the Second Amendment Foundation are proud to stand up for gun owners as we take our case to the highest court in the land.”

Pearson’s comments come after the Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the state’s gun and magazine ban, ruling against challenges saying the law violates equal protection and infringes on Second Amendment rights, according to The Center Square. The split decision maintains the ban, with the majority opinion emphasizing that exemptions for law enforcement and security personnel are not in violation of equal protection. 

The minority opinion argued that the right to bear arms is fundamental to individual freedom, The Center Square report said. Despite this ruling, federal challenges are ongoing, and the case is anticipated to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

The ban, enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, prohibits more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and restricts the sale and possession of magazines above certain capacities, according to a separate report from The Center Square.

“Our Illinois Supreme Court declares by a vote of 4 to 3 that Pritzker’s illegal and unconstitutional gun ban by the mighty wisdom of our Supreme Court is upheld and is indeed constitutional, according to them. Friends, this is a blow to Illinois,” Congressional candidate Darren Bailey said in a Facebook video. “This is a blow to our freedoms. This is a blow to our Constitution, the Second Amendment. This is a blow to this great republic. 

"My question to you is, how much more of this are we going to take?" Bailey continued. "Friends, I’m standing here on my front porch. This porch kind of became famous through the governor’s run. It became famous when I was speaking of nonsense and I made a statement. And sometimes when we make these statements, we don’t know where this is going to go. But if need be, this front porch will be my final stand. 

"I will not allow anyone to infringe on my property, on my Second Amendment rights," Bailey said. "I will not allow anyone to come and take anything from me. And if need be, as I quoted before, I will die on this front porch before I give up any of my Second Amendment freedoms."