Metro East Sun

Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources (IFOR) Vice President Glenn Sanders is questioning the limitations HB5855, the Protect Illinois Communities Act, will have on high school trapshooting teams. 

Sanders said his organization sponsors several teams, including Quincy High School, Quincy, Notre Dame, Liberty High School, and the Point Shooting Sports Program.

“Hundreds of youths received two separate levels of safety training to participate in these programs, which has resulted in over 20 years of a clean incident-free safety record,” he said in the Dec. 20 House Judiciary Committee's hearing on HB5855. “Numerous participants in our programs have received college scholarships, and the program has even produced an Olympic qualifier. This bill will make it a continuation of those programs very difficult.” 

Sanders noted "at least in the fall semester, there were 73 high schools here in Illinois. They'll be directly affected by this and currently have trapshooting programs with their student-athletes.” 

“Currently, shooters can obtain a FOID card and drive themselves to practices and meets," Sanders said. "Taking away the card from these athletes will mean that their parent will have to obtain a FOID card if they don't already have one. They'll have to drive their son or daughter to attend all practices and meets. The single-parent homes will be (affected) particularly hard, removing a valuable resource.” 

The teams compete as part of the Illinois State High School Clay Target League.

"Last time I was able to check the status of the big gun ban bill 5855 ... Less than 6,000 of the 2.2 MILLION gun owners in Illinois had taken the time to fill out a witness slip opposing the bill," Sanders posted on Facebook days prior to the first hearing.

HB5855 is being called out for the limitations it is posing to young hunters who have been able to exercise their right to carry while hunting alone. “It prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from owning a firearm or hunting without being with someone with a FOID card over the age of 21 while they're hunting. So those are the three main areas that have received discussion,” State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metrolpolis) said of the ban, SE Illinois News reported.