Lake County Gazette

State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) recently said HB5855, the Protect Illinois Communities Act, will have an immediate economic impact on Illinois’ arms manufacturers and hunting stores including DS Arms in Barrington.

 “Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms are manufacturers of guns. L.W. Schneider is a manufacturer of parts for guns. They manufacture parts of Springfield Armory or Rock River arms, or other arms dealers would use in their manufacturing of their guns,” Swanson said. “So we're talking north of 1,000 employees between those three businesses that would be affected and then take it that second and third order effect. If there's no guns in Illinois, what's going to happen to those mom and pop sports stores there on the street corner?”

Opponents to the bill say DS Arms is one of many arms manufacturers in jeopardy of going out of business should the General Assembly pass sweeping gun control legislation.

HB5855 would outlaw several types of common guns and magazines and create a registry whereby gun owners must inventory their guns. The bill would also disallow those under 21 from purchasing weapons and from hunting alone. In Lake County, this would affect DS Arms at 27996 W. Industrial Ave. in Barrington. 

“We manufacture a full assortment of parts and accessories in Lake Barrington, IL,” DS Arms notes on its Facebook page.

The arms manufacturer employs around 30 workers and has an estimated revenue of around $7 million per year, according to Kona Equity. A vote on the bill in the House is expected on Jan. 11.

“DS Arms was founded 1987, we are known around the globe as the top innovator and manufacturer of FN FAL 7.62mm battle rifle system,” the company notes on its website. “We manufacture the complete FAL system right here in the United States in our own CNC machine shop, utilizing new tooling, improved materials and a ISO certified quality control process. In addition, DSA manufactures the M16/M4 series rifle, and like the FAL, D.S. Arms is a true manufacture/fabricator of M16 type rifles, parts and accessories.”

Glenn Garamoni, president of the State Line Rifle Association of Illinois, said the bill would affect arms manufacturers in the state even if shipping guns out of state. “(The bill) provides NO exemption for federally licensed firearms dealers and manufacturers in Illinois. Goodbye to many jobs in Illinois at Springfield Armory, Rock River Arms, DS Arms, Rock Island Armory, Krebs Custom, and Benjamin Tactical Inc. to name a few,” Garamoni said, Lake County Gazette reported.