Gun rights advocates in Illinois are appealing to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the state for possible violations of residents’ Second Amendment rights. The request follows Bondi’s recent remarks emphasizing that the right to bear arms is not a “second-class right,” a sentiment she expressed while examining gun permit delays in California.
Ed Sullivan of the Illinois State Rifle Association said the group has engaged in discussions with the Trump administration and is hopeful that Bondi will prioritize states with restrictive gun laws. “She should tackle kind of the most onerous states in the nation when it comes to anti-gun laws,” Sullivan stated. “We certainly welcome anything that they want to do to kind of look at this process.”
Illinois has enacted some of the strictest gun control measures in the country. These include a ban on more than 170 types of semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines, along with the Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card requirement. Each of these laws has faced mounting legal challenges in both state and federal courts.
A federal district judge ruled last fall that the state’s sweeping gun ban was unconstitutional. However, that decision is currently paused as the appeals process continues. Gun owners across Illinois are left in limbo, awaiting a final verdict that could have national implications.
Sullivan noted the slow pace of the courts, saying, “We would have hoped to have something move along faster than it has, but we are at the whims of the courts.” The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to take up a similar gun ban challenge out of Maryland, and Colorado recently passed its own ban, adding to the frustration of gun rights supporters.
The Justice Department has previously signaled that it will not ignore state-level infringements on constitutional rights. Bondi’s statement underscores a broader shift toward increased federal scrutiny of gun laws that may encroach on lawful gun ownership.
Gun owners in Illinois are urging the DOJ to act swiftly, arguing that the ongoing restrictions burden law-abiding citizens and set a dangerous precedent for other states to follow. Until the courts render a final decision, Illinois’ gun ban enacted in January 2023 remains in force.
