SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed a ban on assault weapons early Friday morning on a 64 to 43 vote.
Six months after the deadly Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park, legislation prohibiting the sale of assault rifles, rapid fire devices and magazines over 12 rounds made some major headway. House Speaker Chris Welch.
State Rep. Charles Meier of Okawville argued against the ban.
Opponents argue the bill is unconstitutional and doesn’t address the mental health component of many mass shootings. Advocates say something must be done to stop violence and stress that no one will be taking away your guns. Those currently owning an assault weapon would have the serial number of that rifle recorded with their FOID card information.
Governor JB Pritzker applauded house passage of the measure. It still needs to be voted on in the Senate.
State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) released the following statement on Thursday after voting against SB 2226, the most restrictive gun control legislation introduced in Springfield in years.
“Illinois Democrats were back for a Lame Duck Session attempt to pass an unconstitutional, overreaching gun control bill. This so-called assault weapons ban would prevent law-abiding citizens from accessing and using dozens of commonly used firearms that people use to protect themselves, their families, and their property, as well as hunt, target shoot and competition shoot. Unconstitutional gun bans like this do nothing to take illegal guns off of the street. Unconstitutional gun bans like this do nothing to improve public safety. Throughout December 2022, 2nd Amendment supporters turned out in force to submit more than 21,000 slips in opposition to the original HB 5855. I am thankful to my constituents for reaching out to me to express their ardent opposition to this bill and look forward to the bill being found unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court if in fact the bill passes the Senate and is signed by Governor Pritzker.”
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) voted against the most recent gun control legislation effort that passed the Illinois House on Thursday night. SB 2226 represents the latest version of the original HB 5855 that was introduced in early December.
“Despite some changes, the bill still contains unworkable and unconstitutional provisions that severely limit the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” Windhorst said. “I am proud to have been a part of the opposition in the Illinois House to this most recent effort to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens. Gun bans, ammunition bans, and expensive and burdensome regulations have been ruled unconstitutional time and time again by the US Supreme Court. Despite tonight’s passage of this legislation, there remains further legislative and legal hurdles that it must clear. Should this measure be signed into law, I will strongly support any legal action that is taken to find it unconstitutional.”
(Information provided by the IOCI Radio and press releases sent to the WQRL/WISH/WMCL Newsroom.)
