West Central Reporter

McDonough County Sheriff Nicholas M. Petitgout will not enforce a gun ban enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in early January. 

Sheriffs across the state are refusing to implement the Protect Illinois Communities Act – HB 5471 – that bans over 100 commonly owned firearms. Pritzker has threatened local law enforcement for not enforcing the law which is currently under legal challenge.

“As your Sheriff, I wanted to give citizens of McDonough County an update on the recent passage of HB 5471, also known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act,” Petitgout said in a press release. “As your duly elected Sheriff my job and my office are sworn, in fact, to protect the citizens of McDonough County. This is a job and responsibility that I take with the utmost seriousness.” 

"One of those enumerated rights is the right of the people to keep and bear arms provided under the 2nd amendment,” Petigout said. “The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people.” 

“I, among many others, believe that HB 5471 is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution," Petigout said. “Therefore, as the custodian of the jail and chief law enforcement official for McDonough County, that neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arresting or housing law abiding individuals that have been charged solely with noncompliance of this Act.”

More than 80 of Illinois’ 102 counties have said they will not enforce the ban due to constitutional violations, according to Colion Noir. The ban affects 170 types of guns commonly available in the state.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act classifies all semi-automatic weapons as assault weapons, Central Illinois Proud reported. However, many local law enforcement officials deem the law unconstitutional and are say they are unable to enforce it. 

The law requires local firearms be registered.

As many as five million firearms and 10 million magazines in the state may be affected. Gun rights advocates have begun litigation against the state claiming it is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, according to Chicago City Wire.