Attorney General Raoul joins coalition to protect federal regulations of gun sales
Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a multistate coalition of 22 attorneys general in support of federal laws regulating gun sales to enhance community safety.
Raoul and the coalition filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit supporting a federal statute that prevents individuals from transferring or receiving firearms outside their state of residence, except through a federally-licensed firearms dealer, importer, or manufacturer. The brief argues that such regulations help reduce violent crime and support law enforcement investigations.
“The federal government should be able to protect residents and communities through commonsense laws to prevent the illegal transportation of firearms across state lines,” Raoul said. “I will continue to collaborate with fellow attorneys general who prioritize public safety in order to protect Illinois communities from the scourge of gun violence that has become all too common around our state.”
Raoul and the coalition filed the brief in U.S. v. Steven Perez, a 2020 New York case where Perez received illegally purchased weapons from an unlicensed firearms dealer in South Carolina transported to him in New York City. Perez was later arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to prison. He has appealed his conviction, claiming it violates his Second Amendment right to carry a firearm.
Raoul and the attorneys general argue that federal regulations related to transporting guns across state lines do not infringe on Second Amendment rights but rather protect public safety and strengthen state gun laws. The coalition explains that the challenged federal regulation complements and enhances state regulations designed to prevent gun misuse and assist law enforcement in investigating gun-related crimes. Seventeen states, including Illinois, require licensed firearms dealers to maintain detailed records of their inventory and sales, aiding law enforcement in investigating violent crimes and keeping communities safer by ensuring up-to-date information is available.
The brief represents the latest step in Attorney General Raoul’s efforts to address gun violence throughout Illinois and nationally. The Attorney General’s office created Crime Gun Connect, a crime-gun tracing database for Illinois law enforcement. Raoul’s office collaborates with local law enforcement on combating gun trafficking and prosecutes multi-county gun trafficking offenses under its jurisdiction. Additionally, the office works with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to increase awareness of Illinois’ red flag law and address gaps in Illinois’ firearms licensing system.
The Attorney General’s office partners with the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to prevent targeted acts of violence by hosting training sessions for law enforcement officers, educators, religious leaders, and other community members.
Attorney General Raoul has advocated at both federal and state levels for stronger regulation of 3D-printed guns and ghost guns. Although Illinois law now prohibits ghost guns, his office continues fighting in federal court to defend a recent rule closing a loophole at the federal level while defending cases challenging Illinois’ firearm regulations statewide. Nationally, Raoul successfully resolved a lawsuit resulting in revocation of a federal firearm license from an unscrupulous arms manufacturer.
In addition to supporting law enforcement efforts against gun violence, the Attorney General’s office backs victims’ service providers around Illinois offering trauma-informed services for crime victims and their families through its Violence Prevention and Crime Victim Services Division.
Joining Raoul in filing this amicus brief are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin.