Governor JB Pritzker is urging quick passage of the latest proposed ban on assault weapons.
The measure bans assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and rapid-fire devices, and raises the age to get a FOID card from 18 to 21. The Governor wants lawmakers to get it done.
“Weather it happens during the lame duck session which I know is the expectation, or the regular session, it’s important that we do it as fast as possible that’s no doubt. But our aim is to get it done within the first half of the year.”
Gun advocates argue the proposal is unconstitutional and Governor Priztker anticipates a legal challenge.
“My expectation is that there will be lawsuits because once it’s past the people that oppose it, that really is all that is left for them. They want to slow it down, end it if they can, find a friendly judge.”
The proposal will not be getting the support of Republican State Senator Jason Plummer. He calls the 2nd Amendment a cornerstone of our freedoms. Plummer says if the majority party of Illinois made half the effort going after violent criminals and supporting current law enforcement as much as they badger and threaten law-abiding gun owners, all Illinois communities would be much safer and more livable.
The bill’s sponsor is pushing to pass the ban when lawmakers return to Springfield the first week of January.
