By Illinois Review
Illinois gun owners will gather in force on April 15 in Springfield, and this year’s Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) just added a major name to its lineup: Darren Bailey.
The annual event, hosted by the Illinois State Rifle Association, will take place at the Bank of Springfield Center – just blocks from the Illinois State Capitol – where hundreds of Second Amendment supporters are expected to rally, hear from speakers, and lobby lawmakers.
Bailey’s addition to the speaker list signals a clear message: gun owners are not backing down as Democrats in Springfield continue to push restrictive firearm policies.
A farmer and former state senator from southern Illinois, Bailey has built his political identity around unwavering support for the Second Amendment. He has consistently opposed gun control measures backed by Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker, including the state’s controversial assault weapons ban and firearm registry requirements.
Bailey has gone even further than many Republicans, adopting an “I will not comply” stance when it comes to laws he believes violate constitutional rights. He has publicly stated he would rather risk arrest than surrender his firearms, framing the issue as one of protecting families and fundamental freedoms.
“I will die on my front porch before anyone takes my guns,” Bailey has said in past remarks – language that resonates strongly with grassroots gun owners who feel under siege in Illinois.
IGOLD, often described as the largest annual pro-Second Amendment rally in the state, has grown into a powerful show of force since its early beginnings in the 1990s. Organized primarily by ISRA, the event brings together law-abiding citizens from across Illinois to counter what organizers call “relentless attacks” on gun rights by Democrat lawmakers.
Participants typically gather for speeches before marching to the Capitol to meet directly with legislators. The goal is simple: remind elected officials that gun owners are watching – and voting.
Bailey’s appearance comes at a pivotal political moment. He is now the Republican nominee for governor and is set to face Pritzker in the November general election, setting up a high-stakes showdown over crime, taxes, and constitutional rights in Illinois.
In a recent interview on “My View with Lara Trump,” Bailey also called for federal authorities to investigate state finances under Pritzker, citing what he described as “massive” waste and fraud.
“We’ve got waste and fraud at massive levels,” Bailey said. “I would love for the DOJ or the FBI to come in and investigate… the level of fraud is immense.”
That message is expected to resonate at IGOLD, where many attendees view government overreach – not just on guns, but across multiple issues – as part of a broader pattern under one-party Democrat rule.
Critics argue that while Springfield Democrats push stricter gun laws on law-abiding citizens, they have failed to address violent crime in cities like Chicago. Instead, they say, policies have made it harder for responsible residents to defend themselves while doing little to stop criminals.
For Bailey and his supporters, IGOLD is about more than a single issue. It’s about pushing back against a political culture they believe puts ideology ahead of public safety and constitutional rights.
As hundreds prepare to descend on Springfield, one thing is clear: the fight over the Second Amendment in Illinois is far from over – and voices like Darren Bailey’s are only getting louder.
