Top committee requires Illinois State Police to hold public hearings on assault weapon registry

(WAND) — Assault weapon owners in Illinois have until January 1 to register their firearms and attachments, but many across the state have contacted their lawmakers with concerns about how the system works. The emergency rule implementing the assault weapon registry is still in place, but a top committee of lawmakers wants Illinois State Police to answer all of your questions.

Thousands of gun owners have been calling their local lawmakers and members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to voice their concerns about the language of the emergency rule. The Illinois State Rifle Association hoped JCAR would block the policy from staying in effect Tuesday.

Republicans believe the rule has vague definitions of the weapons and makes public compliance improbable.

“The rule permits broad interpretation of the terms assault weapon and assault weapon attachment outside of rule when the legislative intent clearly indicates the list of assault weapons is to be comprehensive, detailed and updated by the Illinois State Police as needed,” JCAR members wrote.

While the motion to object to the emergency rule failed on a party line vote, Democrats agreed that the Illinois State Police need to clarify what they are requiring of the public. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved a motion requiring State Police to hold three public hearings in order to answer questions from concerned gun owners.

“Whether they’re specific firearm attachment magazine questions, issues about private security contractors, questions about transfers and the return of firearms will all be subject to additional conversation in the coming months,” said Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria).

Spain explained State Police have agreed to hold public hearings for the permanent rule-making process for the assault weapon registry. ISP Spokesperson Melaney Arnold said the agency is committed to transparency with lawmakers and the public.

“We are happy to address all questions and comments submitted to ISP and will be doing so in the weeks to come,” Arnold said. “ISP already has one public hearing scheduled regarding the Protect Illinois Communities Act rule and is working to schedule two additional hearings.”

Arnold also noted that State Police appreciated JCAR allowing the emergency rule to stay in effect as they work to address concerns.

The Illinois State Rifle Association hoped the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules would block the policy from staying in effect Tuesday.

The Pritzker administration said Republicans voted to object to a rule that mirrors what the majority of lawmakers approved in legislation Tuesday. However, Press Secretary Alex Gough said their attempts to create a loophole in the assault weapons ban failed.

“So instead, they made a motion to recommend three public hearings,” Gough said. “ISP was already planning on doing a public hearing, but they aren’t going to take the Republicans up on their suggestion to water down the assault weapons ban.”

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will reconvene on November 7.