Rockford Sun

The Illinois State Police (ISP) has announced that they will be conducting three public hearings on permanent rules regarding the implementation of the Protect Illinois Communities Act. This act, signed into law in January 2023 by Governor Pritzker, aims to regulate the possession, sale, and transfer of certain firearms and accessories in the state.

The public hearings are scheduled to take place in early November at various locations across Illinois. Each speaker will be given a three-minute time slot to provide their comments, while organizations will have approximately nine minutes to present their views.

Gun rights advocates have expressed concerns about the limited capacity of the committee room at the Stratton Building in Springfield, where one of the hearings will be held. They believe that the room, which can accommodate less than 100 people, will not be sufficient to handle the expected crowds.

Under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the State Police is required to accept public comments on their proposed permanent rules. These comments can be submitted in person at the public hearings or through written communication. The agency is obligated to consider all submissions received.

In September, ISP published emergency rules outlining the registration process for banned firearms and attachments. However, the response from citizens has been lackluster, with less than one-tenth of one percent of the state's FOID card holders registering their semi-automatic firearms within the first three weeks of the process.

One of the major concerns raised by citizens is the vagueness and lack of clarity in the rules. It is not clear which types of firearms and ammunition are covered by the regulations and which ones are not. While a list of banned items has been provided, critics argue that it is incomplete and ambiguous, potentially leaving gun owners uncertain about whether their weapons need to be registered.

The emergency rules implemented by ISP were reviewed by the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) on October 17. Despite objections from some committee members, the majority agreed to require ISP to address the questions raised by the public and to hold public hearings on the proposed rules.

It is worth noting that the ban has faced legal challenges in both state and federal courts. The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled the ban to be constitutional, while a federal court case is currently pending before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Citizens who wish to participate in the public hearings or submit their comments can find more information on the ISP website. The state police are expected to carefully consider all feedback received as they move forward with the implementation of the Protect Illinois Communities Act.

To learn more, click on this link: https://repcabello.com/2023/11/05/isp-to-host-firearms-ban-and-endorsement-affidavit-rules-hearings/