Illinois State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) | repcaulkins.com
Illinois State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) | repcaulkins.com
Illinois State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) is celebrating a small victory in his quest to defend Second Amendment rights in the Prairie State after a bill banning certain firearms was signed into law.
Caulkins, who has served in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2019, shared an update on his lawsuit challenging the ban in a Feb. 8 Facebook post.
"WE WON," Caulkins wrote in the post. "Judge Forbes grants temporary restraining order to the members of 'Law-Abiding Gun Owners of Macon County.' More information coming soon!"
Caulkins filed the lawsuit in late January in his personal capacity as a resident of Illinois. According to a press release Caulkins shared on Facebook, other plaintiffs named in the suit included the Law Abiding Gun Owners of Macon County, Perry Lewin and Decatur Jewelry & Antiques, Inc.
Vandalia Radio reported an additional 2,100 people were protected from the ban under a third temporary restraining order against the law, which was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last month.
Macon County Judge Rodney Forbes issued the latest court order, which doesn't allow the state to enforce the new law, the Cook County Record reported.
"The court further finds special legislation and equal protection challenges are judged by the same standard," Forbes wrote in the order. "Accordingly, the court is required by precedent to enter a temporary restraining order on Count IV (equal protection) and Count V (special legislation) of plaintiffs' complaint."
Attorney Thomas DeVore previously filed a similar lawsuit against the state's new gun law, and won a restraining order in late January. DeVore's case included 862 plaintiffs, KFVS 12 reported.
DeVore had a problem with the lawsuit filed by Caulkins. According to WGLT, DeVore argued that contributions for Caulkins' legal defense fund were going to his campaign fund.
“I find it odd that a politician would solicit funds from citizens for legal defense of a law like this and then have them submit them to his campaign account,” DeVore told WGLT.
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