
Illinois is the 8th State to Ban Specific Gun Advertising
Illinois is taking steps to address gun violence by targeting gun advertisements aimed at children. According to House Bill 218, which is expected to be signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, marketing practices that encourage minors to unlawfully purchase or possess firearms would be curtailed. The bill will prohibit gun manufacturers from advertising, promoting, or designing firearm-related products in a manner that appears to support or encourage individuals under 18 years of age to engage in such activities.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker speaks to business and political leaders during an event to officially announce Chicago as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention on April 12, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago last hosted the convention in 1996.
The legislation is set to restrict manufacturers from promoting "unlawful paramilitary or private militia activities through their marketing efforts." Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul highlighted instances of youth-targeted advertising, citing the example of the JR-15 rifle, a smaller version of the AR-15, promoted with the tagline "Get ’em One Like Yours."
Attorney General of Illinois Kwame Raoul speaks as (L-R) U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) listen during a news conference near the U.S. Capitol September 28, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Critics argue the bill encroaches upon both the First Amendment rights of free speech and the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) contends that gun manufacturers, unlike other industries, produce constitutionally-protected products, and shouldn't be held to the same advertising standards.
A general view shows convention attendees at the Sig Sauer booth at the 2016 National Shooting Sports Foundation's Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The SHOT Show, the world's largest annual trade show for shooting, hunting and law enforcement professionals, runs through January 23 and is expected to feature 1,600 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 62,000 attendees.
The NSSF's spokesperson, Mark Oliva, expressed concerns about the potential implications for constitutional rights, asserting that the legislation essentially infringes on Second Amendment rights by limiting First Amendment rights.
A convention attendee looks at rifles displayed at the Sig Sauer booth at the 2018 National Shooting Sports Foundation's Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The SHOT Show, the world's largest annual trade show for shooting, hunting and law enforcement professionals, runs through January 26 and is expected to feature about 1,600 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 60,000 attendees.
Violations of the new law could result in a fine of $50,000 and the possibility of a court-ordered injunction. The state's initiative to regulate firearm-related advertising underscores a broader effort to address gun violence, in an attempt to protect minors from potentially harmful messaging. While proponents emphasize the importance of safeguarding youth and reducing gun violence, opponents raise concerns about the balance between constitutional rights and public safety. To read the bill in its entirety follow this link.
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