Illinois continues to try to trample on the 2nd Amendment.

Just weeks after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzer signed a restrictive gun law, Illinois State Democratic Rep. Daniel Didech proposed a new one that would require buyers to reveal their social media history. From CBS Chicago:

“This is something my community is demanding action on,” said Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove). That’s why Didech is proposing gun buyers reveal their public social media accounts to Illinois police before they’re approved for a firearm license. “A lot of people who are having mental health issues will often post on their social media pages that they’re about to hurt themselves or others,” Didech said. “We need to give those people the help they need.”

Pro-gun groups hate the proposition, but so does the ACLU:

Rebecca Glenberg with ACLU Illinois says the bill “doesn’t say anything about how that list will be retained and for how long and what uses it might be put to.” The first amendment group worries police scanning social media may show bias. “A person’s political beliefs, a person’s religious beliefs, things that should not play a part in whether someone gets a FOID card,” Glenberg said.

Didech explained that his bill will give police “additional tools to make sure dangerous weapons aren’t getting into the hands of dangerous people.”

He also insisted that “his bill is a less intrusive version of a similar measure that’s been proposed in New York state,” which “allows police to recover a gun license applicant’s entire browsing history.”

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Like I said, Pritzker signed a new law that requires licenses for retailers to sell guns. From The Chicago Tribune:

Under the new law Pritzker signed Thursday, it would be illegal for retailers to sell guns without being certified by the state. To qualify, stores first must be licensed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Then, they would have to submit a copy of that license to the Illinois State Police, along with an affidavit declaring it remains valid. Shop owners would have to install surveillance equipment, maintain an electronic inventory, establish anti-theft measures and require employees to undergo annual training. A certification would cost retailers a maximum of $1,500, and the regulations would apply to small businesses as well as big-box retailers. Sellers without a retail location would be charged $300 for certification. Supporters contend the new rules could reduce gun violence because federal regulators are stretched too thin to adequately handle all the shops operating in Illinois.

This law has caused some Illinois gun shops to close. In late January, Jim Barnard decided to close his shop Fishman’s Sporting Goods after four decades due to the costs of licensing. Mick Moore came to the same conclusion with his store Walnut Creek Shooters Supply.

WQAD has more, including thoughts from one about why Illinois passed this law:

In Vandalia, Justin Arndt is working on comply with the requirements of the new law. He said the cost of video surveillance for his gun dealership and the cost to maintain that video for 90 days was significant. “Between the security on the video surveillance, the state fee, and the electronic [record-keeping requirement], I could incur an additional $5,000 just to keep my door open,” he said. “I don’t know how many of us are going to be able to withstand this.” Todd Vandermyde, executive director of Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois, said the requirements aren’t about stopping crime, rather regulating gun shops out of business. “You make it sound like this is a reasonable request but if a small gun shop has to put in a $10,000 surveillance system on top of potentially $3,000 in licenses, how do you expect them to stay in business,” he said. “This isn’t about safety. This isn’t about regulation.” He said he’d heard of a number of other licensed online dealers closing their businesses as well.



