Yesterday, House Bill 1092, to expand Illinois’ program of suspending Second Amendment rights without due process, was resurrected after it previously had been re-referred to the House Rules Committee. The House then voted 69-43 to pass it. HB 1092 will now go to the Senate for further consideration. Please contact your state senator and ask them to OPPOSE HB 1092.
House Amendment 1 to House Bill 1092 widens the definition of “family members” who can petition for an order that will cause an individual to have their constitutional right suspended, and their property seized. These “Firearm Restraining Orders” are issued following baseless accusations, and without a hearing or other opportunity for the respondent to be heard in court. This bill also expands the items to be seized, to include ammunition as well as firearm parts. This law attacking the right to due process should be repealed, not expanded.
A person subject to a suspension of a Constitutional right should be entitled to high evidentiary standards, an opportunity to be heard, and the right to face his or her accusers. Civil liberties advocates from across the political spectrum have expressed concerns about these “red flag” schemes and how the procedure may lead to abuses of the process, due to insufficient due process protections.
Again, please contact your state senator and ask them to OPPOSE HB 1092.
