SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) calling for action on his legislation during the upcoming fall veto session to protect Illinoisans who purchased assault weapons when the state’s ban was temporarily thrown out by a federal court.
“It’s unconscionable that that the state would follow through on punishing law-abiding gun owners for making purchases that were fully legal to make at that time,” said Sen. Plummer. “Regardless of how people feel about guns, we should be protecting citizens who did their best to make sure they were following the laws during this court-ordered injunction.”
Between April 28 and May 4, a federal injunction blocked implementation of the state’s assault weapon ban (AWB), which allowed many Illinois residents to legally purchase firearms that would have been illegal if the AWB was in effect.
Sen. Plummer said that, during the window, the Illinois Attorney General and Governor’s office provided no guidance to citizens on the status of those purchases, despite multiple requests for reasonable guidance.
On May 6, the Attorney General issued guidance, stating that firearms that were included in the ban, and purchased and picked up during the window between the rulings, would become illegal beginning January 1 of 2024.
On January 1, owners of weapons outlawed in the AWB are required to fill out an affidavit where the owner is required to attest that the affected firearms were purchased prior to January 10, 2023.
Plummer said it is unfair that those who legally purchased one of these firearms between April 28 and May 4, would either have to surrender their firearms or risk becoming a criminal.
Sen. Plummer filed legislation, Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1073, which updates the affidavit requirements to include firearms purchased during a period in which a court issued an injunction on the law. This would allow individuals who purchased banned firearms during this recent injunction or any future ones, to be able to legally keep and possess them.
“We don’t even know if the state’s gun ban is going to hold up in court, as there are multiple legitimate cases still pending questioning the law’s constitutionality,” said Plummer. “The state should not be bullying and threatening law-abiding citizens who merely exercised their constitutional rights.”
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