Effingham County Sheriff Releases Statement On HB 5471

Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The following statement comes from the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office:

I generally refrain from making public statements expressing and explaining policy decisions.  I have had so many calls from people wanting to know how my Office will react to HB 5471 that I feel I need to respond. This message is for all of the citizens of Effingham County who pay their taxes, go to work, raise their children, support their communities and usually never have negative contact with their police.

When I first read HB 5471, I was shocked by how many commonly used firearms were on the ban list.  This law would, in short order, make criminals out of hundreds of otherwise law-abiding Effingham County Citizens.  In my opinion, I cannot believe that HB 5471 can exist in conjunction with our Second Amendment, especially when we consider recent Supreme Court decisions that uphold a citizen’s right to possess and use weapons that, “are in common use at the time”.  Using this example alone, it is my opinion that HB5471 will be quickly challenged in the Courts.

For this reason, until further direction from our courts, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office will not expend the resources of Effingham County to ensure law-abiding gun owners are registering their firearms with the State, or arresting, otherwise law-abiding individuals, solely for their noncompliance with HB5471.

That being said, this office will take any steps legally available to us to stop those who would bring violence to our communities and harm our citizens with a firearm, or any other means.

I am troubled by the division and violence that is taking place today in our country.  I take this Office and my oath seriously.  The Staff of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office will continue to do everything in their power to protect our community and, as I swore on December 1st, “I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Effingham County Sheriff to the best of my abilities, so help me God”.

Paul F. Kuhns, Sheriff of Effingham County