by Dave Workman | Senior Editor
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is back in court in Illinois, this time filing a lawsuit against the State on behalf of two foster parents, alleging deprivation of civil rights under color of law.
The lawsuit is joined by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) on behalf of Kenneth and Colleen Schults in US District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Plaintiffs are represented by attorney David Sigale of Glen Ellyn, IL. He has been involved in several SAF cases over the past eight years.
Named as a defendant in the case is George H. Sheldon, in his official capacity as director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS).
The lawsuit, which was filed in mid-July, contends that Mr. and Mrs. Schults have been denied their rights because IDCFS policy substantially prohibits foster parents, and those who would like to be foster parents, from possessing firearms for the purpose of self-defense. This violates their constitutional rights under the Second Amendment, the lawsuit alleges.
“After the number of times we’ve had to take legal action in Illinois, including our landmark US Supreme Court Second Amendment victory in McDonald v. City of Chicago six years ago, one would think the state would have wised up by now,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “But here we are again, working with ISRA, fighting for the rights of law-abiding citizens in that state.”
