Dem Illinois governor FURIOUS as sheriffs vow to defy gun ban

"This is political grandstanding at its worst. The assault weapons ban is the law of Illinois," the governor's office told Fox News on Monday. "The General Assembly passed the bill and the Governor signed it into law to protect children in schools, worshippers at church, and families at parades from the fear of sudden mass murder."

The state Senate passed the Protect Illinois Communities Act last week, which bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being sold or manufactured in the state.

At least 74 sheriff's offices have publicly stated their opposition to the law, calling it unconstitutional.

"Part of my duties that I accepted upon being sworn into office was to protect the rights provided to all of us, in the Constitution," Edwards County Sheriff Darby Boewe said on Facebook. "One of those rights enumerated is the right of the people to KEEP and BEAR ARMS provided under the 2nd Amendment. The right to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people."

The Illinois Sheriff's Association stated last week that they have opposed the bill since its inception.

"We, as a representative of chief law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, are very concerned and disturbed by the ongoing and escalating violence throughout our State and Country," they said. "We are always supportive of new tools, techniques and laws that assist us in preventing and holding accountable those that wage efforts of harm and violence on others. However, this new law does not do that."

Pritzker's office continues to maintain that law enforcement in the state doesn't have the right to "pick and choose which laws they support."

"Sheriffs have a constitutional duty to uphold the laws of the state, not pick and choose which laws they support and when. We’re confident that this law will hold up to any future legal challenges, but again, it is the current law of our state. Anyone who advocates for law, order, and public safety and then refuses to follow the law is in violation of their oath of office," the governor's office said.

There are expected to be a number of incoming lawsuits challenging the ban from gun dealers and Second Amendment advocates.