The National Rifle Association (NRA) is calling for a blitz against bills that it says would sharply curtail legal firearms possession that will be presented in judiciary hearings in the Illinois General Assembly today.
Senate bills 1291 and 1657 are to be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the crossfile of SB1291, HB 2354, will be presented to the House Judiciary Committee.
The Illinois government website defines SB 1291 as creating the Lethal Violence Order of Protection Act, allowing a petitioner to request an emergency lethal violence protective order in the case of potential personal danger related to firearms.
The NRA’s affiliated Institute for Legal Action urges its members and supporters to contact their elected officials, including members of the judiciary committees, to ask them to oppose the bills, saying that any ex parte order issued by a judge could easily be based on unsubstantiated claims weighted unfairly in favor of the petitioner without examining other parties’ perspectives.
The SB 1291/HB 2354 measure would mean the subject of the restraining order would have to give up his Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards and licenses, as well as all firearms.
“This legislation is ripe for abuse by individuals that disagree with the Second Amendment, and the mere insinuation that gun ownership makes you a danger to yourself or others is offensive and insulting,” the NRA website states.
The group also argues that SB 1657 would create “an onerous gun dealer licensing scheme within the state” by discouraging and even preventing firearms dealers from doing business. Additionally, it muddies issues by creating wholly unnecessary layers of red tape, according to the NRA, which added that it would force vendors out of business and prevent residents from starting new enterprises.
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