Kankakee Times

A hotly debated bill critics say would outlaw over 100 currently legal firearms and gun accessories, will not be enforced by the Kankakee County Board. 

HB5855, the Protecting Our Communities Act, is expected to come to a vote on the House floor in January. The Kankakee County Board made the decision during its Tuesday, Dec. 21 meeting. 

“A huge shout out to the commissioners of Christian and Kankakee Counties. In the last 24 hours both counties passed resolutions that they will not allow county resources to be used to enforce HB 5855,” Gunrights4Illinois posted on Facebook. “Contact your county board today and firmly tell them you want similar legislation passed in your county.” 

The move follows that of Iroquois County, which passed its own resolution disallowing county moneys from being spent on enforcement efforts outlined under HB5855.

Greenville attorney Tom DeVore has offered his services to citizens seeking to follow Iroquois County’s lead, according to South Central Reporter. Iroquois County announced its jurisdiction will not enforce the legislation should it become law. It is one of 68 Second Amendment sanctuaries in which gun owners' rights have been asserted at the county level. 

Todd Vandermyde, a former contract lobbyist with the National Rifle Association in Illinois detailed Iroquois County’s measure on his Freedom’s Steel YouTube channel. “So what does that mean?” Vandermyde, who dubbed himself Illinois' all-round gun law guru, said. “Well, the sheriff's department is not going to be going out there and aiding the state police or any other agency in enforcement measures against this or any similar type of legislation, the way this resolution reads. Not only that, it doesn't look like the State's Attorney’s office is going to be able to expend any funds in the prosecution of anybody under House Bill 5855 should it become law.” Vandermyde also spoke on the HB5855 Dec. 20 hearing.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is one of several gun rights groups that have readied lawsuits to stop the legislation from being enacted should it be signed into law. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Sterling) said the bill is unconstitutional. “While HB 5855 is likely far from in its final form, the constitutionality of the bill will certainly go before the courts,” McCombie told Prairie State Wire.