A Rockford heat-packer has been slapped with charges for allegedly cutting corners on gun safety, the Illinois Attorney General's Office announced. Juan J. Reyes, a 52-year-old concealed carry instructor, is accused of playing it fast and loose by doling out fake training certificates to gun-toting hopefuls.
In a legal blast, Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged Reyes with allegedly trying to sidestep training laws that aim to keep the public out of the crosshairs of gun violence. Reyes, who faced a judge in Ogle County Circuit Court, is staring down the barrel of a Class 3 felony for forgery, which could lock him up for up to five years, and a Class A misdemeanor for violating the Concealed Carry Act, with a potential stint in county jail for up to 364 days. As per the AG's office, Reyes has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on January 31, 2024.
Flexing his prosecutorial muscles, Raoul threw down the gauntlet, declaring, "Individuals who intentionally break our public safety laws meant to protect Illinoisans from gun violence must be held accountable.” He’s vowed to lock arms with the Illinois State Police and other law enforcers to take on gun violence in all its menacing forms.
The Illinois State Police aren't taking a shot in the dark on this one. They've set their sights to strictly enforcing the letter of the law, warning that they won't let anyone even apparently dodge their training duties. "Concealed Carry License training requirements are explicit, not discretionary, and are there for a reason," the ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly stated, as he aimed at those sidestepping legal requirements. The case was investigated by the ISP, which is charged with rooting out any wrongdoings tied to concealed carry licenses.
