Illinois just became less safe as the state’s legislators signed House Bill 5471 into law yesterday. From the NRA:
House Bill 5471 bans many semi-automatic firearms that law-abiding citizens commonly own for self-defense, competition, and recreation, as well as certain spare parts for them, bans handgun magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition, long gun magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition, and “combination[s] of parts” from which such magazines can be assembled, bans .50 BMG caliber firearms and ammunition, and expands the duration of the state’s “red flag” firearm restraining order by increasing it from 6 to 12 months.
Citizens may only lawfully keep their banned firearms or banned parts if they register them with the government. They may keep banned magazines owned prior to the ban, but may only use and possess them under certain conditions, such as on private property and at shooting ranges. The magazines also must be transported unloaded and enclosed in cases. Owners of banned magazines must notify state police to transfer them to heirs, out-of-state individuals, and licensed firearm dealers. The bill also requires individuals to hold a FOID to possess banned magazines.
Bad guys are going to get their guns regardless of the law. Good guys with guns are packing their bags and moving out.
Action Line: Get your guns and your training now. There’s no telling when your state’s government might try to prevent you from doing so.
P.S. There are states where law abiding citizens are put first, and criminals last. These states give citizens the power to defend themselves by protecting the constitutional right to carry a firearm with permitless carry laws. You can see them on the map below.
P.P.S. Will Florida be the next constitutional carry state? Governor Ron DeSantis indicated that Florida’s legislature has plans to take up constitutional carry legislation in 2023’s regular session. In December, DeSantis was quoted by the Tampa Bay Times as saying “Basically, this was something that I’ve always supported. The last two years, it was not necessarily a priority for the legislative leadership. But we’ve been talking about it, and he’s ([Florida House Speaker Paul] Renner’s) pledged publicly that’s moving forward, and it’ll be something that will be done in the regular session.”
