Bonfield, Ill. — The Illinois State Rifle Association has requested a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against the state’s assault weapons ban.
The federal lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Illinois asks for a declaration that the law violates the right to keep and bear arms and prevents the enforcement of the law.
“Every day this statute exists, law-abiding gun owners are harmed, and we are stripped of our constitutional rights,” said ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson.
“Based on the merits of our lawsuit, we believe the court needs to stop the harm now,” Pearson said.
Two gun stores and the rifle association are named as plaintiffs in the suit. Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul are named as defendants, as they have been with previous assault rifle ban lawsuits. Also named: Illinois State Police Chief Brendan Kelly, St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric, St. Clair Sheriff Richard Watson, Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker, Randolph Sheriff Jarrod Peters, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally, and McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman.
According to 25 News, the county officials are named for “enforcing a statute infringing the right of law-abiding, peaceful citizens to keep and bear commonly possessed firearms and ammunition magazines for the defense of self and family and for other lawful purposes.”
Other lawsuits have been brought against the ban on a state level. One was granted a preliminary injunction in Effingham County, that case is currently in the 5th appellate court. The same suit was brought against the ban again in White County. A hearing was held Wednesday morning.
