Illinois Senate approves assault weapons ban
Six months after the Highland Park tragedy, which claimed seven lives and left many others injured, the Illinois Senate voted to ban assault weapons six months later.
Now, the bill will be re-voted in the state House on Tuesday.
Before the new legislature was inaugurated, lawmakers tried to pass the measure.
Gov. Gov.
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We have reached an agreement on one of America’s strongest assault weapon bans. This was after continued negotiations between advocates, stakeholders, and leaders. Gun violence is a serious problem in Illinois. The people are calling for concrete action. We are fulfilling the promises Democrats made, and together we will make Illinois’ gun laws a model to the rest of the country.
Amended Senate bill defines assault-style weapons and bans their sale immediately. It creates a system for registering serial numbers of weapons currently owned, preventing them from being sold or transferred and tracking their movements. It also moves the date for background checks on person-to-person transactions up to July.
However, the bill’s passage does not affect the FOID card age.
A group of Chicago doctors met to plead for the passage of the assault weapons ban, as Springfield was caught up in last-minute negotiations.
“Assault weapons do not cause the same damage as other guns,” Dr. Sheena McKenzie, Highland Park Pediatrician, stated.
Rush University Medical Center’s Dr. Omar Lateef called gun violence a “public health crisis”.
Lateef stated, “I believe we can all see enough should be enough and that shouldn’t be controversial.”
However, the Senate Republicans protested against the bill.
“Friends, you have to understand that the actions you are taking now are tyrannis,” stated State Senator Darren Bailey (R.Louisville).
“We are going to make felons of taxpayers. “Why don’t you go after the bad guys and put them behind bars, and keep them there?” said Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet).
“Make no mistake, voting for this today is a violation of your oath,” stated Sen. Terri Bryant (R. Murphysboro).
Doctors said that the bill as it stands will be of benefit.
McKenzie stated that “our communities need common sense solutions to reduce gun violence and save people’s lives.”
Gun advocates respond that if restrictions are passed, they will be ready.
“There is no doubt that it will go to court. “That’s why we didn’t give any testimony,” stated Dan Eldridge, Maxon Shooter Supplies, Des Plaines. “There is no way to fix this. We did not want to provide them with subject matter expertise in making a better bill. They will be able to read our objections in court filings.”
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