Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing once again for sweeping changes to the state’s gun laws in the wake of another deadly shooting in Chicago.
On Sunday, Gov. Quinn touted the merits of the Illinois Public Safety Act, also known as Senate Bill 3659, a bill that would place a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and “high-capacity” magazines as well as mandate background checks for all firearm transfers, including those made between private buyers and sellers.
“The recent epidemic of violence in Chicago is unacceptable and we must join together to fight back,” said the Democratic governor. “Public safety is government’s foremost mission and Illinois should not wait any longer to act. There are too many victims of a war being waged on our streets, a war fueled in part by the availability of deadly, military-style assault weapons that have no purpose other than killing.”
“We must work together to protect the lives of those we love and stop what’s happening in our communities,” Quinn continued. “I urge the Illinois General Assembly to take a stand and pass this legislation that will save lives and protect communities.”
The Illinois Public Safety Act was sponsored by state Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), and in addition to banning the sale, purchase, delivery and possession of “assault weapons” and “high-capacity” magazines, it would also place a ban on .50 caliber rifles and rounds in the state. The bans wouldn’t be retroactive, meaning valid Firearms Identification Card (FOID) holders who currently possess these firearms and accessories would be allowed to keep them, but they would not be allowed to transfer or sell them except to a family member.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was in Chicago, near the Morgan Park neighborhood, on Sunday advocating for tougher gun laws. (Photo: Early & Often)
“This is a common-sense solution to preventing gun violence and keeping our children and families safe,” Senator Kotowski said. “This measure will protect our communities by ensuring that military-style assault weapons are off the streets and out of hands of criminals.”
Naturally, the nation’s gun lobby was sharply critical of the measure, noting that it mirrors current laws in New York and Connecticut that are now being challenged in court due to their dubious constitutional standing.
“SB 3659 embodies the anti-gunner ‘wish list’ in Illinois,” said the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “This legislation is a comprehensive anti-gun package which echoes the unconstitutional legislation passed in New York and Connecticut last year. The laws passed in those states are currently subject to lawsuits due to their significant infringement on Second Amendment rights.”
The Illinois Public Safety Act was introduced in the spring Legislative session. At the end of the session, it was still under committee review. It’s Quinn’s hope that this latest public appeal will spur support for the legislation.
As soon as illegal weapon use continues, Illinois will try to place the blame on every surrounding state and community. ALL government refuses to address the real problems, which are difficult and painful to implement.
No longer govnr, but the fight continues..quote, recent crime ?/ really? BIG G has it right.That is the main reason for most crime in this country now, way too many thugs who never pay the price, they get a slap on the wrist and A FEW HARSH WORDS AND BACK TO THE STREET…….so there you are…..STOP BLAMING THE GUN………
yeah, more gun laws and more restrictions will surely slow down criminals with violent urges. look at those places it has worked so well in. duh. im beginning to think we need larger magazines and bigger guns to out gun the criminal!!! in reality, we need to change the criminal mindset, not restrict the honest person.
When is the last time you were held up at gun point with a 50 caliber rifle? can you say IDIOT ALERT!!!!!
Has anyone else noticed that the problem is not guns but it is fatherless black children , and hes anyone else noticed that there are no black males in the publicity shots just single black mothers ? Banning guns, Headstart programs, Black lives matters slogan chanting, and blaming other people for the systemic problem of your own people will not change the fact that all crime and violence stems from the children growing up fatherless and being raised by the thug culture the children watch in the media.
IDIOT.
Don’t ban the gun, ban the demented USER of the gun. But Quinn’s mentality should apply to everything.. example, CARS..
Cars kill more people that guns, ooh ok, so lets ban CARS! Right? No. A trigger doesn’t decide to kill someone.. The PERSON pulling it does. A car doesn’t decide to start on its own and drive down the street killing people either.
We are all missing the real problem, it is called the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. When we allow rapist, robbers, child molesters,murderers, etc.to be sentenced to 25years without parole or life ,we are giving these people a good life. They live better in prison than on the streets. My opinion is If a person commits a crime with some type of gun,they should receive the death penalty. Don’t let them live with 20years of appeals and we pay all their bills. When punishment is equal to the crime a lot of crime will stop. The system needs to get tough and not worry about outside interference. Dam their rights. Did the victims get their rights to live?
If people in prison want to build up big muscles let them do it serving their entire term at hard labor. I see these people on TV shows and they’re working out at the gym, making themselves physically deadly for the time when they get released. They should be fed Twinkies and Oreos and made to be out of shape while in prison.
C’mon boys, get the lead out! This piece of crap is no longer gov. of IL.