SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois gun owners have been calling and emailing lawmakers about the assault weapon registry since it launched in October. The top committee of lawmakers objected to the latest version of rules to implement the registry Tuesday, but the law is still in effect.

State police have updated the rules implementing the registry multiple times with ideas from lawmakers and gun owners. While lawmakers appreciate the changes, they voted to tell state police that they are still concerned about the confusing process.

Republican lawmakers have frequently argued that the Illinois State Police needed a way to ensure people could have their information protected if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the assault weapons ban. State police finally reached an agreement Tuesday morning to ensure information in the registry will be destroyed if the law is found unconstitutional.

"Upon a final order subject to all appeals or a destruction order from the Secretary of State, we would destroy any records," said Suzanne Bond, the chief legal counsel for Illinois State Police. "Otherwise, they would be kept in accordance with the State Records Act."

There is also now a process in place for people to inform state police that they no longer own an assault weapon after they registered the firearm. Still, state lawmakers said the law is highly complicated, controversial and frustrating for everyone involved.

"Here we are now in January, after the first of the year, wondering where things stand," said Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria). "I'm really quite frustrated that we could've approached this differently with a clearer time-frame and trying to resolve many of these issues much earlier on."

Spain and other Republicans hoped to prohibit the rule from taking effect Tuesday, but they failed to get support from Democrats on the bipartisan panel. However, JCAR members approved a motion objecting to the rule because a majority of the committee felt the language is not simply or clear enough for people to understand it.

Rep. Ryan Spain

Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) asks a question regarding the assault weapon registry during a committee hearing on January 16, 2024.

Yet, the Protect Illinois Communities Act is still the law of the land and people can be charged if they are caught with unregistered weapons or attachments.

"The deadline came and went on January 1," said Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago). "So, individuals who decided not go do that are in violation of the law. That's true regardless of the action we took here today."

The Illinois State Police are required to provide a written statement to lawmakers following Tuesday's vote. They will also likely answer more questions about the law during JCAR's next hearing on February 6.

Although multiple sheriffs across the state have publicly stated that they won't enforce the law, Cunningham stressed that everyone should follow the law.

"I think anyone who believes in law and order should enforce the law of the land," Cunningham added. "Ignorance of the law is never a valid excuse for not following the law." 

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