Assault Weapon Ban Will Cause More Illegal Gun Trafficking: Ron Hain

KANE COUNTY, IL — Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said his office will not "proactively investigate" legal, Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card-holding gun owners and seize their weapons.

The recently reelected sheriff's statement was released Thursday morning, two days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state legislators passed new assault weapon legislation by a mostly party-line vote of 34-20, with four more "yes" votes than the minimum needed for passage, Patch reported.

The legislation defines an "assault weapon" as a semiautomatic firearm that has one of a number of banned features or is included on a list of dozens of banned guns. The bill also introduces restrictions on magazines that carry more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns or more than 10 rounds for rifles and shotguns.

State officials praised the bill, which is the ninth of its kind in the nation, saying it is one of the strongest in the U.S.

RELATED: Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Passes House, Signed By Governor

Hain cited several concerns with the new law, with the main one being the potential for an increased rate of illegal firearm trafficking as a result of enhanced restrictions.

"The bottom line is that those with severe mental health issues who wish to do harm or those involved in criminal activity will continue to disregard any law in an effort to obtain a firearm," his statement reads.

Instead, the sheriff called for state lawmakers to expand mental health services.

"Along with strong support of law enforcement efforts and the public’s duty to say something when they see something is the most effective way to intervene against gun violence and active shootings," he said.

Hain said his office will continue to investigate and charge people who illegally possess firearms or use guns to commit criminal acts, but will not investigate legal gun owners.

RELATED: McHenry Co. Sheriff Will Not Comply With Assault Weapons Ban Rules

The new bill comes six months after the July 4th parade shooting in Highland Park, where the accused shooter twice reloaded his AR-15-style rifle with 30-round magazines and fired 83 bullets into a crowd in under a minute. Robert "Bobby" Crimo III, 22, faces 117 felony counts in connection with the state's deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman.