Illinois’ new assault weapons ban, prohibiting the sale and manufacture of high-powered rifles like AR-15s, is facing significant noncompliance. The law, which allows existing owners to keep such weapons if registered, is not being widely followed. According to Alex Degman from WBEZ, most of the 2.5 million permit-holding gun owners in Illinois have not registered their assault weapons.
Gun instructor and dealer Doug Schmidgall, who operates out of Springfield, reports a 30% drop in sales since the law. He’s transferring banned weapons out of state to comply. The online registration process, requiring an email, state ID, and a firearm owner’s ID, poses challenges for rural residents and seniors. Noncompliance results in a class A misdemeanor.
The law, a response to the 2022 Highland Park shooting, has been met with resistance from law enforcement, with many sheriffs refusing to enforce it. State Senator Bill Cunningham insists on its enforcement while gun rights groups continue legal challenges. The Supreme Court allowed the ban to proceed, but its future remains uncertain as debates and lawsuits continue.
Primary Sources: NPR, Associated Press
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