Rockford mayor says local sheriffs wrong for refusing to enforce state’s assault weapons ban

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Mayor Tom McNamara said Friday that local law enforcement officials should not pick and choose which laws they enforce.

His comments were made at City Hall in response to a question from a television reporter about recent statements from sheriffs here and in other counties across Illinois who said they would not enforce the state’s newly enacted ban on military-style weapons.

“That’s not their job. I think they need to look at the office that they hold and look at what their responsibilities are,” McNamara said. “They are there to — yes, uphold the Constitution and also uphold state laws — and they’re not the ones who get to choose which laws they enforce.”

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McNamara’s comments came as part of his regular availability to answer questions from local reporters. He also discussed an upcoming event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the city’s continued efforts to bring electric vehicle production to the Stellantis factory in Belvidere and the response to the fatal shooting at Pinnon’s Meats.

The new state law bans the sale, distribution and manufacturing of assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles and ammunition, and large-capacity magazines in Illinois. It allows those who already own such weapons to keep them provided they register with the Illinois State Police by Jan. 1, 2024. The bill was largely passed along party lines with Democrats in support of the measure.

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana and Stephenson County Sheriff Scott Stovall are among those who have said they won’t enforce the law. Both said it was their duty to uphold the Constitution, and therefore they wouldn’t enforce the law.

“It’s pretty startling that someone thinks they have that ability when clearly in their job description they do not,” said McNamara, a Democrat.

 Boone County Sheriff Scott Yunk criticized the law, but stopped short of saying he won’t enforce it.

“While I understand Governor Pritzker’s intention to make Illinois and all of its communities a safer place, I do not believe placing stricter gun control laws on, or disarming, law-abiding citizens is the best way to do this,” Yunk wrote on Facebook. “I also believe this type of legislation is a clear infringement on our 2nd Amendment rights, and (I am) confident this legislation will be challenged and struck down in the courts.”

Gov. JB Pritzker, who signed the bill into law on Tuesday, also criticized sheriffs who said they won’t enforce the law.

“They took an oath of office to uphold the law. As law enforcement that’s their job, and I expect them to do that job,” Pritzker said at a press event earlier this week. “If you don’t like it, go petition for a change in the legislation or in Springfield, but as it is you don’t get to decide I’m going to drive 150 miles per hour on the highway and there should be no consequences.”

He said he thinks it will withstand the pending challenge in the courts.

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Illinois is the ninth state to ban military-style guns, and similar refusals have happened in other parts of the country after bans. Law enforcement officials have wide-ranging discretion on how to enforce laws, but they cannot unilaterally ignore a law, the Washington state attorney general said after facing similar refusals. However, it is difficult for state police to force local jurisdictions to act.

McNamara said he’s in favor of the ban, but thinks it needs to happen on a national level to be truly effective.

“I’m a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment,” he said. “I’m also a firm believer that you don’t need a weapon that’s built for war throughout our communities.”

The mayor said Rockford has seen instances of assault weapons used in crimes, albeit not at the same frequency as handguns.

“We’ve also seen it with people shooting back at our officers with assault weapons,” he said. “These weapons are going through walls and going through police officers’ car doors. These are weapons of war and they have no place on our streets.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.