Illinois Senate Passes Assault Weapons: Illinois may enact a ban on so-called assault weapons soon. An assault weapons measure approved by the Illinois House on Friday was modified and passed by the state Senate on Monday night.
Before being sent to the governor’s desk, the bill will return to the House for a concurring vote. The bill’s most important provisions include an immediate prohibition on selling and possessing specific assault weapons, with a grandfather clause allowing current lawful owners to keep their guns.
The.50 caliber guns, bullets, and “switches”—rapid-firing devices—are also prohibited. For long rifles, magazines can hold a maximum of 10 rounds, and for handguns, 15 games. Governor J.B. Pritzker supported the proposal in his inauguration speech earlier in the day and is eager to sign it into law.
As the crowd cheered, Pritzker said, “I’m done with the NRA having its way when it comes to mass shootings. I firmly believe that government runs best when we strive for compromise.” Why do we make it so simple for anyone to get a weapon with a high capacity and rapid fire that may murder several unarmed individuals in a matter of seconds?
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Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey, a previous rival of Pritzker for governor, spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the legislation’s passing and warned that many gun owners could refuse to follow it if it were to become law.
Bailey warned lawmakers, “You’ve got to recognize that the acts you are pursuing right now are tyrannous. You must also be aware that I will defy the law and the millions of other gun owners in this state.
Before the agreement was reached in the Senate, several substantial amendments were made to the bill passed by the House, according to Steve Patton, head of the Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee.
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“The fundamental changes that have taken place over the past 24 hours—and undoubtedly since last week, when the House passed the bill—are an expansion and a tightening of the definition of an assault weapon.
That is very significant. The gun industry has consistently tried to make changes to get around the criteria in those states that have banned assault weapons, according to Patton. The other notable difference is that current lawful owners of assault weapons will need to submit an affidavit to the Illinois State Police stating the serial numbers, manufacturers, and models of every assault weapon they hold.
However, according to Patton, they can still keep such guns. The law, particularly the clause requiring state police to get serial number information, was deemed “patently unconstitutional” by Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association.
“You shouldn’t need to register anything for any right, including the Second Amendment or any other right. Therefore, we disagree with it,” stated Pearson. Large-capacity magazine limitations have also been legally contested, according to Pearson.
The IL Senate just passed an assault weapons ban! THANK YOU to all the advocates and survivors who wouldn’t give up.
Next up: Back to the House tomorrow, and then, hopefully, on to @GovPritzker’s desk to become the law of the land.
Let’s get it done. https://t.co/LKvDEopHpe
— Bob Morgan (@RepBobMorgan) January 10, 2023
The United States Supreme Court has not yet heard the case, but Pearson predicts it will soon. “They’ve been declared unconstitutional in a couple of courts and sent back to lower courts for reconsideration,” Pearson said. We will fight it in court if it passes the House, so we’re ready to do that.
It is anticipated that the bill may be signed into law by Governor Pritzker as soon as Wednesday, assuming the House approves it with a majority vote. Please forward this to your friends if you find it interesting. Visit Lighthousejournal.org for the most recent celebrity news and updates.
For almost 4 years, Jason Martin has been a freelance writer for newspapers, journals, blogs, books, and online material. He covers the most recent news as well as many other topics.