By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Illinois lawmakers are reportedly ready to make some firearms advertising illegal in the Prairie State on the grounds that the advertising appeals to “children, militants and others who might later use the weapons illegally,” according to PBS.
Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, told TGM via telephone that the State Senate may act on the bill soon, even later today. The measure is H.B. 218, passed by the House earlier this year.
The measure is sponsored by State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. It’s dubbed the “Firearms Industry Responsibility Act,” and Pearson wondered how the state would “police such a thing.”
“You’re probably not going to put an ad for an AR-15 in a comic book,” he said.
According to the PBS story, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul likes the measure with legislation aimed at tobacco and vaping products. However, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reminded PBS that those industries are not protected by the Constitution.
Besides, existing law does not allow gun sales to juveniles, and even militants must pass background checks.
Pearson, who said he has read the legislation twice, calls H.B. 218 “a bunch of wide open nonsense.”
A handful of other states have adopted similar laws, and the NSSF has sued nearly all of them. PBS identified the states as New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, California, Hawaii and Colorado.
According to NewsNation, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has promised to sign the legislation.
WBBM News, the Chicago CBS affiliate, said gun rights activists call the scheme “unreasonably vague” and contend it violates their rights.
If the legislation is passed and signed into law, it will almost certainly face a court challenge.
A firearms industry spokesman said the proposal not only attacks the Second Amendment, but also the First Amendment.
