Proposed gun control legislation in Illinois is threatening local businesses that make their living on guns. | The Range at 355/Facebook
Proposed gun control legislation in Illinois is threatening local businesses that make their living on guns. | The Range at 355/Facebook
The Range at 355, a local gun range, is warning gun owners of sweeping gun control legislation.
The establishment is at 9003 Murphy Road in Bolingbrook.
"#hb855 Assault Weapon and Magazine Ban is still looming out there,” The Range at 355 posted on Facebook recently. "If you care about 2A issues, please read the summary and make a donation to the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois who are taking action to stop this unconstitutional bill.”
The post comes as a vote nears on HB5855. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), outlaws several commonly owned types of firearms and magazines. As many as 5 million firearms and 10 million magazines in the state may be impacted if the gun ban becomes law. Gun rights advocates vowed to seek legal relief should the bill pass. A vote on the bill in the House is expected in the lame-duck session set to begin in early January.
State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie) is a co-sponsor of the measure. Her name has been attached as a sponsor to other controversial legislation reported by the Chicago City Wire. Stoneback is a lame-duck representative who is in her final days in the chamber after losing a primary battle earlier this year.
When considering options on how to combat the bill, many have pointed to the precedent-setting New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen decision levied by the United States Supreme Court in June. That landmark case overturned a New York State law that required those seeking to conceal carry firearms to show a demonstrable need to defend themselves. The case opened up more rights for gun owners nationwide and required New York to allow more rights for concealed carry holders. It also invalidated laws in other states seeking additional documentation on why gun owners seek to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) and others have argued that HB5855, which HB5859 is meant to enforce, is unconstitutional.
“This is Springfield and, rather than pursuing effective policies to benefit all Illinoisans, there are some people here who have made a career out of virtue-signaling and advocating for the passage of clearly unconstitutional laws,” Plummer said in a statement, quoted by the Metro East Sun. “Here we go again.”
Many like-minded groups and individuals have vowed legal action to stop the gun control package should it pass as is projected in January.
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