After a suburban village passed an ordinance banning assault weapons, a lawsuit was filed to get the new law overturned.
According to the organization Guns for Life, they are filing a lawsuit against Deerfield, calling the new ordinance “gun confiscation.”
“We are pleased to announce a lawsuit challenging the Village of Deerfield’s gun confiscation ordinance,” the organization’s website said. “Banning one of the most effective guns widely in use by America’s nearly 100 million gun owners will only serve to protect criminals, lunatics, and terrorists.”
According to the language of the ordinance, it will be against the law for a person to “carry, keep, bear, transport, or possess an assault weapon in the village,” unless the gun is broken down, not immediately accessible, or unloaded and locked in a case.
The new ordinance also bans high-capacity magazines, and will fine residents of Deerfield between $200 and $1000 per day as a penalty if they don’t forfeit or properly secure weapons that fall under the ban, which goes into effect on June 13.
On Thursday, the National Rifle Association announced that they would join Guns Save Life in their lawsuit and offer their support.
“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,” NRA-Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director Chris W. Cox said. “The National Rifle Association is pleased to assist Guns Save Life in defense of this freedom.”
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Deerfield officials say that the ban is necessary, and that it “may increase the public’s sense of safety at the public schools, public venues, places of worship and places of public accommodation located in the village of Deerfield.”
Deerfield officials say the ordinance exempts current and former law enforcement officers.
