FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 12,
2024
ISRA Follows Through on Promise, Files Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court Arguing Gov. JB Pritzker’s So-Called
“Assault Weapons Ban” is Unconstitutional
(Springfield, IL) – The Illinois State Rifle Association followed through on a promise made last January to
law-abiding, responsible gun owners that they would challenge Gov. JB Pritzker’s so-called “assault weapons ban” on the grounds that the law is unconstitutional – officially filing their appeal with the United States Supreme Court on Monday in Washington, DC.
On January 17, 2023, the ISRA, Firearms Policy Coalition and the Second Amendment Foundation filed a federal lawsuit with the
U.S District Court for the Southern District of Illinois challenging the law. After making its way through the legal process and out of District Court, on December 11, 2023, the Seventh Circuit rejected our request for a hearing as expected – paving the way for the certiorari Petition (a formal request to review the case) to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The ISRA remains on the
front lines and continues to stand up to Gov. Pritzker and anti-gun legislators in Springfield on behalf of 2.4 million law-abiding, responsible firearms owners in Illinois,” said ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. “Our objective from the very beginning of the process that started the moment Gov. Pritzker signed the bill into law – was to take our case to the United States Supreme Court – and today we followed through on that promise and now our case is in the hands of
the highest court in the land,” said Pearson.
The ISRA is confident that if the U.S. Supreme Court accepts this case it will rule favorably, given the court’s previous decisions.
“We believe the Supreme Court will take a look at this case given its clear conflict with
other Federal court rulings and the Supreme Court’s own historic ruling in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association versus Bruen case,” said Pearson. “It is clear that the Pritzker administration is more focused on making criminals out of law-abiding gun owners instead of addressing an inadequate justice system which is permitting violent criminals to continue victimizing the good citizens of Illinois – and we look forward to the Supreme Court righting this
wrong,” Pearson concluded.
At the same time the U.S. Supreme Court certiorari Petition is pending, the ISRA and the other Harrel Plaintiffs are preparing for a trial on the issues before Judge McGlynn in the Southern District of Illinois – currently scheduled to take place in the coming months. So whichever direction this case proceeds, ISRA will be ready to stand up
for the rights of Illinoisans.
The ISRA is presently leading the charge as a named plaintiff on two cases and playing a supporting role in an additional five more – totaling 7 cases dealing with constitutional issues and on
behalf of law-abiding gun owners in Illinois.
