A federal judge in the Southern District of Illinois issued a permanent injunction Friday enjoining the state from enforcing the “assault weapons” ban contained in the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA).
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) was among the plaintiffs in the case. SAF founder Alan Gottlieb responded to the decision, calling Friday “a great day for gun rights.”
According to SAF:
Today, a federal judge in the Southern District of Illinois issued a findings of fact and conclusions of law in SAF’s challenge to the IL AWB and magazine capacity ban.
The Judge issued a permanent injunction which enjoined the state from enforcing the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) criminal penalties against all Illinois citizens.
The order further enjoined the state from enforcing the registration requirements and penalties associated with entering false information. However, the order did stay the permanent injunction for 30 days which Illinois would have likely sought from the appellate court.
The judge’s order allows 30 days before the injunction goes into force, giving the state that period of time in which to file an appeal.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the “assault weapons” ban on January 10, 2023.
The ban faced immediate pushback from law enforcement, with sheriffs from 80 counties making clear they would not enforce it.
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