Illinois Attorney General responds to sheriffs who won't enforce the gun ban
SPRINGFIELD, ILL (WICS/WRSP) — After Governor JB Pritzker signed an assault weapon ban into law last week, local sheriffs and counties have said they won’t be enforcing it.
Now, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said if they won’t do their jobs, other people will.
The new law bans the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Raoul’s comments come after counties from all over the state are saying that they refuse to enforce it.
The legislation bans the sale and possession of assault weapons and assaults weapon attachments in the state. It also bans high-capacity magazines and increases the duration of a firearm restraining order from a period of six months to a year.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Friday that once the governor attaches his signature, it becomes the “law of the land.”
“As law enforcement agencies, there’s overlapping jurisdiction as well so if they don’t do their jobs, there are other people available to do the job," Raoul said.
More than 60 counties have announced they will not enforce the ban, including Sangamon County’s Sheriff, Jack Campbell.
"I answer directly to the people. I don’t answer to the governor. I don’t answer to the attorney general," Campbell said.
Campbell said he is not afraid of any repercussions against sheriffs.
"I think it’s important that we make a stand here and show our constituents across the state that we support these constitutional values. You don’t get to pick and choose which amendments you like either. If you’re going to support and enforce the first amendment, then we have to do that to the second amendment," Campbell said.
Governor Pritzker has said gun owners will have one year to comply with the part of the law requiring that people who already own assault-type weapons register them with the state.
