Judge Blocks Illinois Town's 'Assault Weapons Ban'

Brittany M. Hughes | June 13, 2018
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A judge just temporarily halted an attempt by gun-grabbing politicians in Deerfield, Illinois to forcibly seize sports rifles from their citizens.

In the aftermath of the Parkland high school shooting in mid-February, Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal had instructed the locality to draw up a new policy banning residents from owning certain sports rifles such as the AR-15, as well as magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds. Owners who didn’t turn in their guns or move them out of the town faced a fine of $1,000 per day.

The town claimed it was allowed to make such sweeping regulations thanks to a provision in state law that allows localities to amend their gun rights laws. Gun owners, however, argued that seizing legally purchased guns from law-abiding citizens was unconstitutional.

“It was outrageous that the ban would levy fines of up to $1,000 a day against anyone who refused to turn in their gun and magazines or move them out of the village,” said Daniel Easterday, the resident who filed the first lawsuit against the ordinance. “This certainly puts the lie to claims by anti-gunners that 'nobody is coming to take your guns."

And apparently, at least one judge agreed – at least enough to issue a temporary injunction.

Several gun rights groups backed challenges to the ban, including the Illinois State Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation.

Deerfield gun grabbers, however, say they haven’t given up trying to implement a ban on “assault-style weapons.”

"We are reviewing with our legal team the full written opinion that the judge entered. We will, of course, honor the order issued by the court and temporarily not enforce the ordinance," Deerfield officials said in a statement. "But we are certainly going to review all of the options available to the village, including the right to appeal the decision to the Illinois appellate court."

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