Oh I see what your saying, I’d imagine only liberal states tried that argument. LOLHeller was specifically about the gun control laws in DC. But because DC is a federal enclave, there was a question on whether states had to abide by it, or if it only applied to federal districts.
As you say, IL tried to argue that it didn't apply to them, and the McDonald case based in that state went up the food chain. SCOTUS ruled that it did apply to states as well, which is what really gave Heller its central role today.