Natalia Chi
DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said after a discussion with DuPage County Commissioner Deborah Conroy and DuPage County about the state’s new assault weapons ban, “all state and local laws.” After agreeing to enforce the State Attorney Robert Berlin, according to a joint statement released by the three on Monday.
Mendrick, a Republican, faced backlash after making a statement earlier this month that he would not enforce the state’s new assault weapons ban, with several Democratic lawmakers calling for him to retract his statement. .
Conroy, a Democrat, said at last week’s DuPage County board meeting that he plans to introduce a resolution condemning the sheriff’s remarks at the next board meeting.
More than 200 people attended last week’s board meeting and expressed their views both for and against Mendrick’s comments.
In a joint statement on Monday, Conroy, Mendrick and Berlin “had a meaningful conversation and discussed their shared commitment to the safety of DuPage County residents.”
After clarifying that enforcing an assault weapons ban would not require “deputies to go door-to-door in an attempt to remove weapons from those authorized to possess them,” Mendrick said, “all “We are committed to enforcing all state and local laws.”
According to a statement, Conroy is dedicated to supporting the Sheriff’s Office and will not pursue a resolution of condemnation at this time.
“All parties look forward to their positive and productive cooperation in this important initiative to keep DuPage residents safe and ensure the safety of our community moving forward,” the official said in a statement. Stated.
Mendrick previously believed the new law was unconstitutional, and his office never made sure legal gun owners register their weapons with the state, and prosecuted for simply disobeying the law. He said he would not arrest or detain those who were detained.
Dozens of sheriffs around Illinois have declared that they will not enforce a ban on new assault weapons.
Formerly the seat of the Republican Party, the DuPage County Commission now consists of 10 Democrats and 8 Republicans. At last week’s board meeting, members spoke both for and against the move to denounce Mendrick.
On January 20, an Effingham County judge temporarily blocked enforcement of an assault weapons ban against more than 850 people named in lawsuits filed in the county and a small number of licensed gun dealers. A judge held a hearing on the matter Wednesday. The order applies only to plaintiffs in this case.
The lawsuit was filed by Downstate attorney Thomas DeVore, who lost the Republican Attorney General’s nomination last year. He later filed another lawsuit against the assault weapons ban in Downstate White County that listed more than 1,000 plaintiffs in his case, including a former state senator and Republican governor. Candidate Darren Bailey and about 70 firearms dealers.
mejones@chicagotribun.com
