Anti-gun legislators are already preparing their attack on law-abiding firearm ownership for the 2023 legislative session, and Illinois sportsmen must start preparing, too. The House Judiciary-Criminal Committee is taking public comment on House Bill 5855, the falsely titled, “Protect Illinois Communities Act.” HB 5855 does nothing to “protect” Illinois communities and only destroys freedom by making the already arduous law-abiding firearm ownership process even more difficult.
HB 5855 bans 18-20 years old from obtaining a state Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, which will severely restrict hunting for anyone under 21 years of age. HB 5855 then goes even further by also banning the sale and possession of commonly owned and used rifles by redefining them as “assault weapons,” and even includes a new registry for gun owners in the state.
The committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. in room C-600, 6th Floor of the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago. Sportsmen need to let anti-gun legislators know that we will fight to protect Illinois’ outdoor heritage. Start today by submitting a witness slip opposing HB 8588. This witness slip lets legislators know you oppose HB 8588, which can be a written submission or oral presentation on the day of a hearing. Directions to complete this form can be found here starting on page 13.
Also, please forward this message to your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen urging them to get engaged and do the same.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
