Lake County Gazette

State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) has criticized the new Democrat-led law banning assault rifles and called the legislation both "unconstitutional" and "bad for Illinois manufacturing."

Swanson shared his opposition to the bill in a January 7 press release. 

“Firearm manufacturers based in the 71st District and throughout Illinois will be pushed out of Illinois by this unconstitutional gun ban,” Swanson said in the release. "The Chicago Democrats pushing for this bill know this is an unconstitutional gun grab, as well as, likely, a violation of interstate commerce provisions of the United States Constitution. I was proud to protect the Second Amendment and our Constitutional rights with my NO vote on this gun ban.

He argued that Senate Bill 2226 placed an undue burden on legal gun owners by banning thousands of firearms and creating a database of legacy serial numbers that would be managed by the government. It also requires gun owners who legally possess firearms and FOID cards to register the legacy firearms they own in the system to continue to be "law-abiding."

Several hunting supply stores and the Springfield Armory are located in Swanson's district. He believes the bill prevents gun manufacturers in the state from selling Illinois-made firearms to law-abiding Illinoisans.

He argued his colleagues on the other side of the aisle should shift their attention to getting criminals in line and added "I expect this ban will be challenged successfully in the courts."