East Central Reporter

In a Jan. 6 Facebook post, Rep. Dan Caulkins reiterated his support for the Second Amendment.

“I will always support your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The fight is just getting started!” Caulkins said.

Caulkins was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Public Utilities and Prescription Drug Affordability. Caulkins is a state representative who resides in Decatur, according to the Illinois House.

On his official website, Caulkins posted an expanded statement. It read: “I opposed the firearm ban approved by Democrat lawmakers as I believe this bill without a doubt is unconstitutional. This firearm ban chips away at our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms and it limits the ability of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families at home. If this ban on hundreds of firearms becomes law, it could potentially turn law-abiding gun owners into felons if they don’t register their banned firearms required to be registered with the state. Setting up a gun registry of legally purchased firearms by law-abiding gun owners is one step closer to another law that will require the tracking of all guns purchased in the state. I will always support the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The legislation pushed by Cook County Democrat lawmakers tonight is overreaching and certainly unconstitutional.”

Senate Bill 2226 creates a commission made up of law enforcement personnel, a representative of the Attorney General's office and others to advise on education and implementation of the Firearms Restraining Order Act.

One of the big changes in this bill is that it removed the provision to raise the age to get a Firearm Owner Identification card from 18 to 21.