By Richard Pearson, Executive Director, Illinois State Rifle Association
In September, Illinois witnessed a moment that will be remembered for generations. For the first time in history, the United States Department of Justice stepped directly into a case challenging an Illinois gun ban. And at the center of it was Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the DOJ’s top civil rights official, who argued before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Illinois’ so-called “assault weapons ban” is unconstitutional.
As the Executive Director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, I can tell you that this did not happen by chance. For months, we had been working quietly behind the scenes with senior officials in Washington to elevate this case to the highest levels of government. That effort paid off in Chicago when Harmeet Dhillon, one of the most respected attorneys in America, walked into the courtroom on behalf of the Department of Justice – and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us.
This was not just another hearing. It was a historic moment for freedom in Illinois.
The case, Harrel et al. v. Raoul et al., challenges Governor JB Pritzker’s sweeping gun ban, a law forced through Springfield by Democrats that criminalizes law-abiding citizens for owning commonly used rifles and standard magazines. These are the same firearms owned by millions of Americans nationwide for self-defense, hunting, and sport.
Dhillon was clear and direct. “The Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms,” she told the judges. “The government cannot ban arms that are in common use for lawful purposes by millions of Americans. That principle is settled law.”
Those words echoed everything ISRA has argued from day one. Our members are not criminals. They are police officers, veterans, parents, and young adults learning responsibility and safety. They are hunters, competitive shooters, and ordinary citizens who want nothing more than to exercise the same constitutional rights guaranteed to every American.
Yet under Pritzker’s law, they are treated as outlaws.
Dhillon dismantled the state’s justification for the ban. “Fear is not a justification for stripping citizens of their rights,” she said. “The Constitution does not allow states to disarm law-abiding people simply because politicians think it might make them feel safer.”
That statement cut to the heart of the matter. Illinois Democrats govern by fear, not facts. They demonize firearms while ignoring the criminals who actually drive the violence. Chicago remains one of the most dangerous cities in America despite its endless parade of restrictive gun laws. Politicians use scare tactics to strip rights away from ordinary citizens, while crime continues unchecked.
But this time, thanks to ISRA’s persistence and our partnerships at the federal level, the truth was spoken where it matters most – in a federal courtroom.
I was struck by another line from Dhillon: “The right to self-defense is not a second-class right. It is fundamental. It is for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”
That single sentence captured why we fight. The mother in a rural county deserves the same protection as a family living in Chicago. The farmer in southern Illinois has the same constitutional rights as the governor hiding behind armed security. Rights are not for the privileged – they are for the people.
September’s hearing proved something else, too: ISRA members are not alone. For too long, we have been told that Illinois is hopeless – that our rights will always be trampled by the Chicago machine and Springfield Democrats. But we never stopped fighting. We filed suit. We organized. We educated. And quietly, behind the scenes, we made sure that Washington understood the stakes.
It worked. The DOJ’s decision to send its top civil rights attorney to Illinois is not just symbolic – it is a direct acknowledgment that our case is strong, our cause is just, and that the Second Amendment is worth defending in every state, including Illinois.
Of course, this fight is far from over. The courts will not hand us victory overnight. Pritzker and his allies will continue to waste taxpayer dollars defending a broken law. But history is on our side. The Supreme Court has been clear. In Heller, McDonald, and Bruen, the Court reaffirmed that governments cannot ban arms in common use. Illinois politicians know this, but they passed their ban anyway, hoping to bully citizens into compliance.
Now, they face the consequences.
As Dhillon reminded the court, “The people of Illinois do not lose their constitutional rights because their legislature believes otherwise. Rights do not stop at state borders. They belong to the people.”
That is the truth. And it’s why the ISRA will never back down.
For decades, we have been the voice of Illinois gun owners. We have stood through victories and defeats. But September showed us what persistence looks like. It showed us that when we keep fighting, doors open – even at the highest levels of government.
To every ISRA member reading this: you made this possible. Your support, your dues, your phone calls, and your determination gave us the strength to push this case to the top. You may not have been in that Chicago courtroom, but your presence was felt.
This is a moment to take pride in. A moment to understand that history is being written in Illinois – and that we are shaping it together.
We will not rest until this unconstitutional law is struck down. We will not rest until every Illinois citizen enjoys the full protections of the Second Amendment. And we will not rest until the politicians who trample our rights are held accountable.
The fight continues. But September made history. And with Harmeet Dhillon at the podium, the Department of Justice at our side, and ISRA members standing strong, I believe freedom will prevail.
