North Egypt News

Illinois state Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) has joined nine other GOP representatives as sponsors of a bill that would repeal the firearms ban law recently signed by Gov. JB Pritzker.

Jacobs criticized the law in a Feb. 1 news release from his office.

“I’ve been very consistent throughout my time in the legislature," he said in the release. “I have a 100% pro-2nd Amendment voting record. The law that was signed in January 2023 by Governor Pritzker is a violation of the 2nd Amendment and restricts the rights of law-abiding citizens that wish to use commonly used firearms to protect themselves, their family, and their property."

Jacobs added that his constituent and other people who live in Southern Illinois have demanded action "to oppose this unconstitutional overreach by superiority Democrats and Governor Pritzker." He stated that his push to repeal the law is in line with the values of the citizens he was elected to represent.

House Bill 1564 was introduced by state Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) on Jan. 30. Jacobs signed on as a co-sponsor the next day. The bill would repeal provisions of Public Act 102-1116, which requires that a petitioner for a firearms restraining order may request a plenary firearms restraining order that lasts no less than six months. Additionally, it removes the provision that a firearms restraining order may be renewed for another year, and it also repeals the ban on automatic weapons.

An appellate court upheld a temporary restraining order granted by an Effingham County judge in January, a FOX 32 News report said. The new ruling expanded the order to the entire state, going beyond the more than 860 plaintiffs named in the original case filed by attorney Thomas DeVore.

Jacobs was first elected to the Illinois House during the November 2020 general election, the General Assembly website said. His legislative experience includes serving on the Higher Education and Veterans Affairs’ committees. He resides in Pomona.