Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What happens when you legally buy a rifle during a court-ordered injunction, only to be told a year later you’re now a criminal for owning it? If you live in Illinois, buckle up.
Washington Gun Law’s William Kirk just broke down a bombshell ruling in the case Reece v. Raoul—an unpublished Illinois appellate court opinion that may not be binding yet, but has massive implications for gun owners in the state.
Remember that brief window from April 28 to May 4, 2023, when the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) was temporarily blocked by an injunction? Thousands of Illinois residents lawfully purchased semi-automatic rifles during that time. Fast forward to 2025, and at least one Illinois court now says: tough luck. You can’t legally possess that gun anymore.
That’s right. The court ruled that if you bought your rifle during that one-week window, you’re out of luck unless it was in your hands before January 10, 2023—and registered by January 1, 2024. Missed those dates? The state says you don’t have a legal leg to stand on.
Let’s call it what it is: backdoor confiscation.
William Kirk points out that while the court didn’t technically order confiscation, it gave two choices—store your firearm out of state or get rid of it. Either way, Illinois is making lawful ownership impossible inside its borders.
SEE ALSO: Illinois Argues It Knows What Your Life Is Worth
Worse yet, the plaintiff in Reece didn’t even challenge the constitutionality of the law. Instead, he relied on procedural doctrines like equitable estoppel and justifiable reliance.
Translation: he argued it’s not fair to change the rules mid-game. The court shrugged and said fairness isn’t the issue—you should’ve known the injunction could vanish at any time.
The kicker? This ruling might be unpublished, but you can bet anti-gun politicians will use it as ammo. Expect to see it cited when the next lawsuit pops up.
If you registered your rifle after buying it during Freedom Week? You just handed Illinois everything they need to take it. That registry is a roadmap to your front door.
Kirk lays it out plainly: “If you legally purchased something, and the state later says you can’t own it, and forces you to get rid of it—that’s confiscation.”
This isn’t just an Illinois problem. It’s a test run for how far courts will let governments go in criminalizing normal, lawful gun ownership.
The fight isn’t over. But the message from Illinois courts is loud and clear: confiscation is on the table; and the law-abiding gun owner is always the easiest target.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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