Illinois Legislators Introduce Stringent
Measures Affecting FFLs

As NSSF reported would happen, anti-gun legislators on Wednesday introduced legislation that will severely impact federally licensed firearms retailers in Illinois, if not force many out of business.

In the name of increasing public safety, legislators seek to mandate elaborate security standards and other costly operating procedures. Two weeks ago, legislators, community advocates and anti-gun groups publicly announced the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and the Gun Dealer Licensing Act HB1016. The heart of HB1016 is the requirement that all firearm dealers must have a state-issued license in order to operate. NSSF now has the specifics on what this legislation seeks to implement:

• A licensing process administered by a five-member board consisting of: a police chief; a state police officer; an officer of an anti-gun organization; a lawyer; and an FFL holder.
• The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would be empowered to establish dealer licensing fees without oversight.
• The Department of Financial Professional Regulation is empowered to require the completion of any written or computer-generated forms the board feels are necessary to discharge its licensing authority, including the creation of state-wide gun registration forms.
• Firearm retailers will be subject to unlimited inspections by administrative authorities while also granting the board the ability to shut down a retailer at any time for "public safety" reasons.
• In order to apply for a state license, an applicant must have already worked for 5 years in a licensed gun shop.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Beginning Monday, May 16, call State Sen. Don Harmon's offices at (217) 782-8176 and (708) 848-2002 and say that you are opposed to Sen. Harmon's Firearm Dealer Licensing bill.
2. Beginning Monday, May 16, call State Rep. Kathleen Willis' offices at (217) 782-3374 and (708) 562-6970 and say that you are opposed to Rep. Willis' Firearm Dealer Licensing bill.
3. Contact your own State Senator and State Representative and tell them that you are opposed to state licensing of firearm retailers and urge them to vote against any bills that would license firearm retailers.

NSSF will keep all Illinois members updated as the process moves forward in the coming weeks.