Illinois governor, sheriffs spar over semiautomatic gun law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — To the scores of sheriffs in Illinois who reportedly have vowed not to enforce the ban on semiautomatic weapons that took effect this week, Gov. “They don’t get to choose which laws they enforce.” Republican Sheriff Mark Landers of Logan County, just northeast of Springfield in central Illinois, was among the first of his peers to declare his stance, posting on social media Wednesday that “the right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right.” Calling the law “a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” Landers said that “neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the state nor will we be arresting or housing law-abiding individuals who have been charged solely with non-compliance of this act.” Landers did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday. Rep. Bob Morgan, the Deerfield Democrat who “It’s disappointing to hear this from law enforcement officials whose own deputies’ lives are at risk,” Morgan said. “Standard-issue bulletproof vests cannot stop a semiautomatic weapon round.” Weapons obtained before the law took effect Tuesday night must be registered with the Illinois State Police by Jan. 1, 2024. Pritzker, who called the sheriffs’ stance “political grandstanding,” said he’s confident it will survive court tests, as semiautomatic weapons bans have in eight other states and Washington, D.C.