Judge blocks Illinois town’s assault weapons ban: report

A judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block a Chicago suburb’s assault weapons ban, the day before the measure was to go into effect on Wednesday.

Officials in Deerfield, Ill., unanimously approved the ordinance in April to ban the possession, manufacture or sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

The Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday that Lake County Circuit Court Judge Luis Berrones had temporarily blocked the ordinance until the plaintiffs in two lawsuits over the ban could be heard.  

{mosads}Residents with the newly banned weapons were required to remove their guns from town boundaries by June 13 or face a fine of up to $1,000 per day. 

Deerfield said in a statement Tuesday that it will look over its legal options.

“We are reviewing with our legal team the full written opinion that the Judge entered,” the village said. “We will, of course, honor the order issued by the Court and temporarily not enforce the ordinance; but we are certainly going to review all of the options available to the Village, including the right to appeal the decision to the Illinois Appellate Court.”

Deerfield officials had proposed the ban after the February school shooting in Parkland, Fla., which left 17 people dead.

The town is facing two lawsuits that argue assault weapons are protected under the state’s 2013 Firearm Concealed Carry Act, the Tribune reported.

One was filed by Deerfield gun owner Daniel Easterday, the Illinois State Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation. The other challenge was filed by gun owner John William Wombacher II and Guns Save Life. 

The National Rifle Association (NRA) had condemned the ordinance.

“Every law-abiding villager of Deerfield has the right to protect themselves, their homes, and their loved ones with the firearm that best suits their needs,” Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s lobbying arm, said in a statement in April.