SPRINGFIELD – Legislation targeting the gun industry was signed by the Governor over the weekend, but the new law now faces a federal legal battle.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 218, which allows the Attorney General, counties, and private citizens to sue members of the firearm industry for vaguely defined so-called “unlawful business and marketing practices.”

Proponents claim the new law is intended to clarify that the gun industry is subject to Illinois’ Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act for marketing firearms and related products.

Opponents of the new law note that the gun industry is already subject to the state’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, like every other business.

State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley), who opposed the legislation, said, “It is very clear House Bill 218 was intentionally written with broad language to make it easier for the Attorney General and anti-gun groups to target gun manufacturers and Federal Firearms Licenses in an attempt to put them out of business.”