NRA Calls in Lawyers Against Liberal Law

(UnitedVoice.com) – Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed a sweeping gun control law on January 10 in response to the Fourth of July massacre in Highland Park. Pro-Second Amendment groups, backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), responded by filing a lawsuit.

"Instead of arresting, prosecuting, and punishing the criminals who break the law, Gov. Pritzker is focusing his attention on those who haven't broken any laws. The people of Illinois deserve better," said John Weber, NRA Illinois state director.https://t.co/ygZY7UaDFQ

— KHQA News (@KHQA) January 24, 2023

On Tuesday, January 24, two individuals and a number of groups filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Illinois, including the National Sports Shooting Foundation, Hood’s Guns & More, Pro Gun and Indoor Range.

The NRA is not listed as a plaintiff, but is instead involved in the background like it was in the Supreme Court case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which overturned a 100-year-old gun law in the Empire State. The lawyers, former US Solicitor General Paul Clement and Erin Murphy, who successfully argued to have that law struck down, are working on the new case.

House Bill 5471 bans the sale of semiautomatic rifles, limits magazines to 15 rounds for handguns and 10 rounds for long guns, and made switches, which can turn semi-automatic guns into fully automatic guns, illegal. The new law also expands the state’s red flag law, which would result in individuals losing their rights for 12 months instead of the usual 6.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the suit calls the Illinois law “extreme” and argues it violates the Fourteenth and Second Amendments. The lawsuit argues almost all of the popular semiautomatic rifles in circulation today would be prohibited if the law stands.

NRA Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director Jason Ouimet told Fox News Digital that the organization won’t “stand by while activist politicians pass unconstitutional laws” that aren’t going to protect people.

The lawsuit is asking the court to find the new law unconstitutional. Additionally, it seeks the issuance of an order to prevent the law from being enforced in the meantime.