IL Assault Weapons Ban Rules: Public Hearings

Update October 27

The Department of State Police has scheduled three hearing for next week:

1. Thursday, November 2, 2023 9:30 a.m., Room D1 of the Stratton Building, 401 Spring Street, Springfield, IL  62704 
2. Friday, November 3, 2023 9:30 a.m., Room C-600 of the Bilandic Building, 160 N. La Salle Street, Chicago, IL  60601 
3. Monday, November 6, 2023 9:30 a.m., Caseyville Community Center at Village Hall, 909 South Main Street, Caseyville, IL 62232 

Details and instructions to join online are here.

FFL-IL and other gun rights groups will issue a press release this weekend with more information.

Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois (FFL-IL) requested three public hearings on the emergency rules published by the Department of State Police (ISP).  Today, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules issued an order compelling the ISP to do just that.  It's a small win, but it is a win nevertheless. 

FFL-IL requested three public hearings:

• One in Northern Illinois, outside of Chicago
• One in Central Illinois
• One in Southern Illinois

When asked for a justification for these hearings, we responded:  

Since the Statute, and therefore the rulemaking, involve compliance risk and uncertainty for our member FFL’s, manufacturers, and citizens, the infringement of Constitutional Rights, as well as possible felony and misdemeanor charges, it would seem incumbent that as much industry and citizen input as humanly possible be allowed as well as the collection of information on how this rulemaking will impact all citizens of this State. 

It would appear to be an unnecessary burden that individuals from around the State travel to one place to have their voices heard by the Department, the IL General Assembly and the Governor. These entities  may not want to listen, but that does not mean that citizens should not be given the opportunity to voice their concerns, that clarifications should not be publicly discussed and that these clarifications or explanations should not  be placed into some kind of record. During the FFL licensing discussions, the Department held more than one hearing within the State.

The order from JCAR is for these hearings to happen in the next 60 days.

We will post the dates, times, and locations as soon as we know more.  It is important to get as many Illinois gun owners as possible to attend and present reasonable objections to the vagueness of these rules.  These comments will get back to JCAR, who ultimately have to approve the final rules issued by the ISP.

While we believe this unconstitutional firearms, accessory, and magazine ban will ultimately fail in court, we are working to deny the registry any traction and legitimacy right now.

Please support our efforts if you are able. Thank you.