CHICAGO, In poor health. (WCIA) – State lawmakers held the third and ultimate listening to of the yr to debate the assault weapons ban proposal.
Committee chairman Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) described as a “urgent, polarizing, and passionate matter.”
That was most evident within the testimony from gun rights teams.
“I’m right here to inform you that if Home Invoice 5855, or something remotely prefer it passes, we are going to see you in court docket,” Todd Vandermyde, a former NRA lobbyist stated.
On the third listening to for Representative Bob Morgan’s (D-Deerfield) bill that might ban semi-automatic firearms statewide and lift the authorized age of gun possession to 21, legislation enforcement consultants testified on the present statistics of firearms. Previous hearings included survivors of mass shootings and violence prevention experts.
Cook dinner County Sheriff Tom Dart stated the gun issues within the county have by no means been worse.
“It was routinely, we might have pull vehicles over, there’d be no weapons within the automobile,” Dart stated. “Now, it’s the exception. Everyone has weapons. They’re in all places.”
In line with Angel Novalez, Chicago Police Division’s chief of constitutional policing and reform, Chicago Police confiscated a file variety of weapons up to now yr. The Chicago Police Division confiscated 1,156 assault-style weapons up to now this yr — a 13 % improve since final yr.
He stated these weapons are extra highly effective than what officers carry. He helps banning them.
“It’s making defending our neighborhoods tougher and harmful for all our cops,” he stated. “And it’s making residents really feel extra unsafe.”
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly additionally applauded the invoice’s plan to extend ISP’s capability to research gun trafficking within the state.
“It’s clearly a recreation of inches, while you’re speaking about what number of firearms you’re attempting to cease stepping into the stream of trafficking, the place they finally are used to commit crimes,” Kelly stated. “However a big chunk of that a large piece of which might be stolen firearms. The enforcement regime and the way in which we monitor stolen firearms which have penalties for the switch of the stolen firearms is considerably missing.”
Gun rights advocates additionally testified Tuesday on the listening to. A number of, together with Vandermyde, strongly oppose the invoice.
“I’m right here to inform you that the gun house owners are uninterested in being blamed for each madman, each prison and each different wicked act the two,500,000 gun house owners didn’t do,” Vandermyde stated.
They argue bans on semi-automatic rifles violate the second modification, and the Supreme Court docket has a precedent of overturning bans just like the proposed invoice.
“This invoice is harmful and locations an undue constitutional burden on an individual’s capability to supply for his or her self-defense,” John Weber, a lobbyist for the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation in Illinois, stated. Morgan’s invoice is predicted to be voted on by the Illinois Basic Meeting throughout the lame duck session throughout early January 2023.
