Macon Reporter

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur), during a recent conversation with WGLT, discussed House Bill 5855, also known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act.

On Dec. 15, Caulkins also took to Facebook to urge supporters to donate to the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois (FFL-IL) to oppose HB 5855, stating that "your 2A rights are under attack. Fight back."

“I believe this whole thing is unconstitutional,” Caulkins said in the interview with WGLT. “And that will be proven in court. I'm not optimistic at all that people will come to their senses or that the Democrats in the General Assembly even consider or care that much.”

During the conversation with WGLT, Caulkins pointed out that most homicides committed in Chicago, Cook County and elsewhere are usually committed with a handgun.

“They're easily concealed and easily wielded,” he told the station. “We have seen mass shootings with semiautomatic rifles by deranged people. And that, to me is something that we need to look at. We have the ability to tag those people that need mental help, and those are the things we ought to focus on.”

According to its website, the FFL-IL is an organization supporting the state’s firearms dealers, and was created this year to oppose gun control legislation and protect dealers in the state by focusing on issues they face.

Caulkins also noted on his website that hearings for the legislation started in December, and he urged constituents to fill out witness slips to speak in opposition of the proposal.