East Central Reporter

Illinois residents have been slow to comply with the state's gun ban, as only 0.1% of legal firearm owners have registered their "banned" firearms, attachments, or prohibited ammunition with the Illinois State Police (ISP). This comes a month after the ban went into effect, and with over 2.4 million Firearm Owners ID card holders, the low registration rate is raising concerns.

The law, enacted by the governor, requires residents to register certain firearms before January 1st or face criminal penalties. However, many gun owners are pushing back against this mandate. State Representative John Doe, who filed legislation earlier this year to repeal the requirement of owning a FOID card in Illinois, expresses his discontent with the law: "This is ridiculous. HB1134 is intended to protect the rights of gun owners in Illinois."

Critics argue that Democrats are targeting law-abiding citizens who own firearms. Doe emphasizes the need to address mass shootings while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners: "I think we can all agree that mass shootings are very tragic events and they should never be ignored; however, we can take advantage of the resources we have to reduce crime while protecting law-abiding citizens from having their second amendment rights taken from them."

To address concerns around the Protect Our Communities Act, the ISP will hold three public hearings in the next week. These meetings will take place in Springfield, Chicago, and Caseyville. Gun owners and residents will have the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions regarding the ban.

The situation has sparked broader discussions about the erosion of constitutional rights. Representative Doe warns against the potential loss of freedoms: "We are heading down a very dangerous road of losing our freedoms in small portions by ideologies and progressive legislators who target citizens who believe in the original intent of our constitution."

As the debate rages on, it is clear that gun owners and their supporters are determined to protect their constitutional rights. Representative Doe pledges to be their advocate: "I will always stand up for our God-given rights and do everything in my power to be the voice for hard-working, law-abiding gun owners. Let us not kneel to progressive attacks but fight to keep our constitutional rights."

The deadline for firearm registration is fast approaching, and it remains to be seen how many more Illinois residents will comply with the ban. The outcome of the public hearings may also play a role in shaping future legislation on this contentious issue.

Source: www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_

To find out more, go to this link: https://repcmiller.com/2023/11/01/just-0-1-of-legal-illinois-firearm-owners-have-registered-their-banned-firearms/