On Monday morning, Illinois began the penalty enforcement phase of the new ban on possession of popular guns and magazines on public property. For both residents and visitors staying more than 24-hours in the state, it is now a criminal violation to possess a “prohibited firearm” outside of your own property or licensed gun ranges. In fact, possession of two or more of these firearms in public is now a Class 3 felony.
Most gun owners have no idea just how expansive the new law really is in terms of the guns that are banned. The list includes even pump action shotguns like the Remington 870, America’s favorite shotgun. And that’s before the issue of “shorty shells.”
Then there are the problematic characteristics of the Ruger 10/22, America’s favorite .22 rifle, which is also now a prohibited firearm. Frankly, most of the legislators who voted on the ban don’t actually know which guns have been outlawed and they don’t really care. And that’s when they’re sober.
What’s more, most magazines with a removable baseplate also now fall into the prohibited category when the law is implemented as written. You may possess those anywhere you want, as long as it’s on your property, or if they’re unloaded and encased while traveling to or from a range or gun shop.
So much for carrying a loaded semi-auto handgun as a concealed carry license holder.
Here’s the law. From page 97. . .
Beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, a person authorized under this Section to possess an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge shall possess such items only…
Only on your own private property, or at a gun range, or gun shop. When not on your property, the firearms must be transported unloaded and encased. Possession of two or more of the prohibited firearms is a Class 3 felony.
And the relevant section from page 105 of the file at the link above concerning magazines . . .
“Large capacity ammunition feeding device” means: (1) a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition for long guns and more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns (emphasis added).
The “readily converted” language is what effectively bans most magazines with removable baseplates if a prosector chooses to interpret the law that way.
Here’s more from page 106 . . .
(c) Except as provided in subsections (d), (e), and (f), and beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, it is unlawful to knowingly possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
So, ladies and gentlemen, let’s see a show of hands: How many Land of Lincoln gun owners ignored the new law’s provisions and carried a gat with a removable baseplate magazine in public today?
As one of the affected individuals, did I carry today? No, I didn’t carry a gun loaded with a magazine with a removable baseplate today despite what I wrote last week pledging not to comply with the new law. Instead, I carried two. And two spare magazines.
There are also a couple of happy sticks in the back of my ride and a couple of 17-rounders in the glovebox. And probably a couple of others here or there as well.
In fact, among a considerable number of Illinois’ card-carrying good guys I’ve encountered in recent weeks at Guns Save Life meetings in various regions of the state, I don’t know a single one who was going to put his or her pistols in the gun safe and break out the revolver(s) because of the new law.
Governor J.B. Pritzker and his merry band of gun control jihadists have made criminals of most of Illinois’ 400,000-ish concealed carry licensees and fair portion of the two million other gun owners in the state. Mass non-compliance seems the common reaction to the new law.
The Center Square has covered this mess, taking the IFOR press release warning hunters and sportsmen of the new law’s provisions and building on it.
The provision of Illinois’ gun and magazine ban beginning Monday is affecting resident and nonresident hunters.
The ban on semi-automatic guns and magazine enacted Jan. 10 says 90 days after, gun owners can no longer be in public places with certain firearms. This is not just affecting what guns concealed carry license holders can carry, or what kinds of magazines they can have with their carry firearm, it is also affecting hunters.
Illinois State Police say on their frequently asked questions website, prohibited firearms are still allowed on private property for hunters.
Greg Bishop led off with that yesterday morning on capital city’s most listened-to talk radio show.
The good guys who are challenging this new gun ban law have a hearing set for this Wednesday in the Southern District of Illinois federal court. We expect a ruling on a preliminary injunction blocking the law shortly after the hearing.
Frankly, it can’t come soon enough.
