Southern Illinois News

House Bill 5471 was signed into law on Jan. 10. In a Facebook post, Rep. Patrick Windhorst spoke out against the signing of the amended version of House Bill 5471.

"In light of tonight’s bill signing by Governor Pritzker, law-abiding gun owners will be impacted yet again by the loss of their Second Amendment rights, Windhorst said. "In the United States of America, we have inalienable rights that are enumerated in our founding documents. These include our Second Amendment rights."

The newly implemented House Bill 5471 is said to enhance protection for Illinois residents.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, it is also called the "Protect Illinois Community Act," the amended House Bill 5471 clarifies what high-capacity magazines are banned. Magazines with more than 10 rounds are banned for long guns, and magazines with more than 15 rounds are banned for handguns.

Windhorst opposed the bill, stating that the Second Amendment is protected by the Constitution of the United States.

"Our nation’s founding documents protect rights that are sometimes unpopular," Windhorst said. "We protect the freedom of speech because sometimes, speech is unpopular. We protect the freedom of religion because some religions are not popular. We protect the freedom of the press because sometimes, the press is not popular."

The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action explains that citizens can keep their banned magazines and banned parts, but only if they register them with the state. It also urges Illinois residents to contact their legislators and tell them to oppose HB 5471.

ABC7 reported that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill on Jan. 10, and it would go into effect immediately after it was signed. Assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and rapid-fire devices are banned by the new law.

"The rights that we as Americans are promised in the Declaration of Independence and granted in the Constitution have been violated by the passage of this legislation and the signing of it by Governor Pritzker," Windhorst said. "The Illinois State Rifle Association has promised legal action aimed at stopping the implementation of this law. I support their effort and look forward to a favorable outcome for law-abiding gun owners.”