Reitz Sponsors Pro-Second Amendment Legislation to Expand Rights of Law-Abiding Gun Owners

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nathan Reitz, D-Steeleville, is co-sponsoring pro-Second Amendment legislation that is designed to lift a number of recently enacted restrictions while also allowing an accommodation for a major economic driver in Southern Illinois.  

“I’m sponsoring a commonsense, pro-gun bill to defend southern Illinois from the one-dimensional Chicago-assault on legal gun ownership. This proposal will protect our Second Amendment values by creating exceptions for law enforcement and military personnel,” Reitz said. “It also ensures the World Shooting Complex in Sparta is exempt from recently imposed gun regulations which negatively impact our vendors and small and locally owned businesses in the area.”

Reitz is cosponsoring Senate Bill 1139, which as amended, is in response to sweeping changes and regulations enacted by the Firearm Dealer Licensing Certification Act, which now requires gun dealers to become licensed with the state and prohibits gun sales without extensive background checks. Specifically, the language will:

• Restructures the validity of concealed carry licenses by stating that licenses may expire 5 years from the expiration date of the prior license rather than 5 years from the renewal application date.
• Clarifies that the World Shooting Complex in Sparta is not impacted by recently passed gun restriction laws.
• Clarifies that law enforcement is exempt from concealed carry restrictions according to federal law.
• Authorizes off-duty law enforcement to carry a concealed firearm while hunting.
• Allows military personnel to apply for a FOID card or conceal carry license when they are 18 years of age as opposed to 21, currently.

“This bill is an effort to shield us from overregulation which undermines our local economy and infringes upon our constitutional rights,” Reitz said. “On the issue of guns, there certainly is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Southern Illinois has a drastically different set of priorities, and I’m prepared to defend them.”