East Central Reporter

Edgar County Sheriff Jeff Wood is refusing to enforce a sweeping gun ban enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. 

The bill passed the General Assembly largely along party lines. 

“As your sheriff, I wanted to give citizens of Edgar County an update on the recent passage of HB 5471, also known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act,” Wood said in a press release. “As your duly elected Sheriff my job and my office are sworn, in fact, to protect the citizens of Edgar County. This is a job and responsibility that I take with the utmost seriousness.” 

Wood emphasized his duty to protect the rights provided to everyone as stated in the Constitution in which "One of those enumerated rights is the right of the people to keep and bear arms provided under the 2nd amendment.” 

“The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people,” the sheriff said. “I, among many others, believe that HB 5471 is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution. Therefore, as the custodian of the jail and chief law enforcement official for Edgar County, that neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that the lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arresting or housing law abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance of this Act.” 

Sheriffs across the state are refusing to implement the Protect Illinois Communities Act – HB 5471 – that bans over 100 commonly owned firearms. Pritzker has threatened local law enforcement for not enforcing the law which is currently under legal challenge.

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) noted the opposition on his website. “At least 30 Illinois county sheriffs are refusing to enforce the newly-passed assault weapons ban because they contend it violates the Second Amendment,” Miller said.

According to WMBD-TV, counties refusing to implement the ban include Clay, Edwards, DeKalb, Dewitt, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Iroquois, Jefferson, Jo Daviess, Kankakee, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Logan, Massac, McLean, McDonough, Ogle, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Randolph, Richland, Stephenson, Tazewell, Washington, Wayne, White, Winnebago, and Woodford. 

The law classifies all semi-automatic weapons as “assault weapons.” However, many local law enforcement officials note they deem the law to be unconstitutional and are unable to enforce it. The law requires local firearms to be registered.

As many as five million firearms and 10 million magazines in the state may be affected. Gun rights advocates have begun litigation against the state noting it is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, Chicago City Wire reported.