- Some law enforcement agencies in Illinois said that they wouldn't enforce a new law that bans the sale of assault-style weapons.
- The Protect Illinois Communities Act was passed earlier this month, prompted by a July 4 mass shooting.
Multiple law enforcement agencies in the state of Illinois said that they would not enforce new legislation that bars sale of assault-style weapons, arguing it violates the Second Amendment, according to reports.
Sheriffs in Illinois counties, including DeKalb, LaSalle, DuPage, and McHenry, among others, have publicly made their stance about the Protect Illinois Communities Act, WABC-TV reported on Friday.
The legislation, which also bans the sale and manufacturing of high-capacity magazines, was passed earlier this month as an effort to prevent gun violence.
"We won't sacrifice safety, but at end of the day, we believe we have to do what is right for our own communities," McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman told the outlet.
LaSalle County Sheriff Adam C. Diss, in a statement released on January 11th, argued that the legislation "is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution."
"Therefore, as the Custodian of the Jail and Chief Law Enforcement Official for LaSalle County, that neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will be arresting or housing law-abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance of this Act," the statement continued.
DuPage County Sheriff Jim Mendrick echoed similar sentiments, according to WABC-TV. However, other leaders in the county stand by the new act, particuarly after the July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park, which left seven dead.
"The tragedy of the Highland Park shooting will always be with me," Illinois State Senator Laura Fine said at the time of the bill's passing. "It is long past time that we act and ban assault weapons so no other communities will have to experience this trauma."
Other sheriffs, however, have doubled down on enforcing the act, including in Lake County, where the tragedy occurred last year.
"It's incredibly dangerous for me to cherry-pick and enforce only laws I agree with, or only laws I feel are important," Lake County Sherriff told the news station.