State police file updated rules for assault weapon registry following public hearings

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois State Police have filed updated rules to properly implement the state's assault weapon registry. This comes less than a week before state police will appear before a top committee of lawmakers to see if they approve the amended language.

Assault weapon owners in Illinois have until the end of this month to register their firearms and attachments with state police. Although, everything could change if the powerful Joint Committee on Administrative Rules rejects the new proposed rules during a hearing Tuesday morning in Chicago.

Illinois State Police held three public hearings in November to help concerned gun owners understand the registration process. Yet, ISP leaders were also met with intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers.

"Hundreds of thousands of people will absolutely not comply," said Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville). "It is up to the governor and the legislature to truly decide if they're prepared to declare war on law-abiding gun owners or not. One thing will be certain. This we will defend, the right to bear arms shall not be infringed."

The proposed rules state anyone submitting an affidavit for their assault weapon or .50 caliber rifle manufactured with removable attachments is only required to submit information for the firearms. Bolt and lever action rifles or pump action shotguns are not subject to the state's registry. However, gun owners will need to register the attachments if they remove the items from those firearms to alter other guns.

Countless gun owners were upset that the initial rules only exempt law enforcement and federal firearm licensees from registering their weapons. Now, Olympic target shooting competitors and coaches or people using assault weapons and attachments at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex at Sparta are exempt. Assault weapon owners from other states who travel through Illinois to use their guns legally in another state are also exempt.

"It was said during debate and during negotiations on this legislation that the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources were going to develop a list of firearms for sporting purposes that were supposed to be submitted," said Josh Witkowski on behalf of the Illinois Federation For Outdoor Resources.

Now, all assault weapons are permitted for hunting if the firearm meets the gauge or caliber, ammunition and number of rounds limitations set by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Still, hunters cannot possess magazines that alter rifles to make the guns shoot multiple rounds at once.

State police explained that people who rent or borrow an assault weapon from a friend for hunting or a teammate for a shooting event and immediately return the firearm will not be required to register the gun.

Anyone with suspended FOID cards will be required to surrender their assault weapons and attachments to law enforcement or transfer them to someone authorized to purchase and possess the items for the duration of the revocation.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the U.S. Supreme Court as justices could soon decide to block the Illinois assault weapon ban.

"Guns that shoot 30, 50 or 100 bullets at a time are guns that people don't need in their homes for protection or sporting use," Gov. JB Pritzker said during an unrelated event Monday.

Pritzker said he is hopeful the Supreme Court will make a ruling that recognizes the safety of families is more important than someone's desire to shoot "guns that are weapons of war."

The Supreme Court justices are scheduled to review the petition filed by Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) on January 5. Many gun owners are also anxiously waiting for oral arguments to begin for a separate court case regarding the assault weapon registry in the Southern District of Illinois. The arguments before Federal Judge Steven McGlynn are scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Halbrook told ISP leaders in November that any data in the assault weapon registry should be destroyed if the Protect Illinois Communities Act is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The vast majority of assault weapon owners in Illinois are still required to register their firearms and attachments by December 31 regardless of the future Supreme Court ruling.