BENTON – With this week’s signing of House Bill 5471 banning assault weapons in Illinois into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon said in a statement he released Wednesday that he will protect residents’ 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Sheriff Bacon says his job is to protect the residents of Franklin County and takes his job and responsibilities with the utmost seriousness.

The sheriff says part of his duties is protecting the rights provided to all of us in the U.S. Constitution including the 2nd Amendment. The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as a inalienable right by the people. The sheriff says he and many others believe House Bill 5471 is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment.

The sheriff says neither he nor anyone in his office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will they be arresting or housing law abiding individuals that have been charged solely with non-compliance with this Act.