Survival And Prosperity

Illinois Senate Democrats Don’t Have Enough Votes To Pass Gun ‘Control’ Bills

Gun rights supporters were victorious in Illinois today as voting on two gun “control” bills that Senate Democrats were trying to push through the Illinois General Assembly “lame duck” session were scrapped. Kurt Erickson reported on the website of the Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) website this afternoon:

There’s not enough support in the Illinois Senate to impose tough new restrictions on semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

In a setback for gun control advocates in the wake of the murder of school children in Connecticut, the Illinois Senate was poised to adjourn Thursday without voting on two pieces of legislation aimed at limiting access to certain kinds of weapons and bullets.

Although the two proposals could emerge again when the legislature reconvenes next week, the lack of action shows the General Assembly remains divided on how to balance Second Amendment issues.

(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)

Brian Brueggemann added on the website of the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois):

Senate Democrat leaders announced Thursday they did not have enough votes to pass their measures on the two issues.

“It is clear that we will need bipartisan support in order to take floor votes on gun safety and marriage equality this week. We will take some time to work on these important issues to advance them in the near future,” the Senate Democratic caucus said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)

Meanwhile, Illinois residents with at least half a brain are perplexed as to why these lawmakers aren’t focusing on more pressing issues- like the State of Illinois marching headlong towards insolvency with $8 billion in unpaid bills and a $96.8 billion pension funding gap.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (http://www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Sources:

Erickson, Kurt. “Ill. Senate drops controversial gun control measures.” Panatagraph. 3 Jan. 2013. (http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ill-senate-drops-controversial-gun-control-measures/article_f7d63ade-55de-11e2-b0f0-0019bb2963f4.html). 3 Jan. 2013.

Brueggemann, Brian. “Illinois Senate Dems put off votes on gun ban, gay marriage.” Belleville News-Democrat. 3 Jan. 2013. (http://www.bnd.com/2013/01/03/2446276/senate-dems-put-off-votes-on-gun.html). 3 Jan. 2013.

Tags: Antonio Munoz, assault weapons, assault weapons bans, AWB, Chicago Democrats, Dan Kotowski, Democrats, gun bans, gun control, gun registrations, handguns, high-capacity ammunition magazines, high-capacity magazine bans, Illinois, Illinois Democrats, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois HB1263, Illinois HB815, Illinois House Bill 1263, Illinois House Bill 815, Illinois Senate, Illinois Senate Democrats, magazine registrations, rifles, semi-automatic firearms, shooting ranges, state government, State of Illinois

Illinois Senate Democrats Push To Ban ‘At A Minimum, All Detachable-Magazine Semi-Automatic Rifles And Pistols’

Last night I blogged about Democrats in the Illinois Senate trying to push through gun ‘control’ legislation during the “lame duck” session of the Illinois General Assembly (welcome to the world of politics in Madiganistan). There was some initial confusion in the mainstream media about what was to be banned and registered, but by last night the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action clarified exactly what it was Illinois Senate Democrats were demanding. From the NRA-ILA website this morning:

Illinois: Gun and Magazine Ban and Registration Schemes Pass in Senate Public Health Committee Tonight in Springfield

If you own a semi-automatic firearm or detachable magazine, they may be banned, taxed, and registered and you could easily become a felon unless you act NOW

Anti-gun legislators led by Senate President John Cullerton and backed by Governor Patrick Quinn (D) substituted and passed sweeping draconian gun and magazine bans in the Senate Public Health Committee today. House Bill 1263, amended to include a ban on many commonly owned firearms passed in this committee by a 6 to 4 vote. House Bill 815, which was amended to include a magazine ban and shooting range restrictions, passed by a 6 to 3 vote. Additionally, amendments have been filed to remove the hunting exception and could be introduced and considered on the Senate floor tomorrow. These actions prove once again that Chicago politicians seem more focused on creating new classes of criminals out of law-abiding citizens than dealing effectively with their current violent crime problems.

New amendments have been introduced which add some specifics to the time limits for registration of previously owned firearms and magazines, and set the fees to register firearms and magazines. These amendments will be heard in the Executive Committee tomorrow morning at 11am. Both bills are expected to be heard on the floor of the Senate tomorrow afternoon for their third and final vote, and this is where the real fight will take place to maintain your Second Amendment rights and defeat Senate President Cullerton’s anti-gun agenda. It is imperative that you contact your state Senator IMMEDIATELY to express your opposition to House Bills 815 and 1263 and any additional anti-gun amendments.

Among other things, House Bill 815 would:

- Prohibit anyone without a FOID card from using a commercial shooting range, which in many cases would make it impossible to introduce new shooters to the safe and responsible use of firearms.

- Grant the State Police broad discretion to impose design, construction and operation standards that could shut down most commercial shooting ranges.

- Ban possession of magazines and other feeding devices that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. A “grandfather clause” would require registration by owners of such devices and give the State Police discretion to impose and charge fees. Registration would require “proof of ownership” that could be impossible for most people to provide, and even registered owners could not transfer magazines within Illinois, except to an heir or a licensed dealer. Transfers of “grandfathered magazines” would have to be reported to the ISP.

- Violations of this magazine ban would be a felony. Failure to report theft or loss of a magazine would be a misdemeanor until the third violation, which would be a felony.

House Bill 1263 would:

- Ban, at a minimum, all detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles and pistols. Remington 7400 deer rifles, Ruger 10/22 squirrel guns, Glocks, 1911s, etc. This ban would include about 80% of handguns now sold in the U.S.

- Possibly ban all semi-automatic rifles and even revolvers or single-shot pistols with the capacity to accept muzzle brakes or compensators.

- Ban “assault weapon attachments,” so possession of a thumbhole stock, a pistol grip,or a fore-end (a “shroud” that “partially or completely encircles the barrel”) would be a crime even if you didn’t possess a firearm.

- Ban all .50 BMG rifles.

- Contains “grandfather” provisions that would require registration by owners of devices and give the State Police discretion to impose and charge fees. Registration would require “proof of ownership.”

- Create felony penalties for violation of this ban on guns or attachments.

- Create lost and stolen penalties that would criminalize victims of gun theft.

Anti-gun politicians are attempting to sacrifice your constitutional rights as a scapegoat for the criminal acts of violence in Chicago by gangs and drug dealers. Don’t let them succeed in banning your firearms or magazines as an excuse for stopping criminals from misusing them. Criminals — by definition — violate laws, especially gun control laws, including often: murder, rape, robbery, drug-dealing, gang violence, firearm theft, carrying concealed firearms without a license/permit, federal gun-free school zones. They do not obey gun bans, register their firearms, or get subjected to any gun control schemes (like the lone state ban on carrying concealed firearms for self-defense) that only affect and penalize law-abiding citizens like you. Your telephone calls TODAY will determine the outcome of this very serious assault on your Second Amendment rights.

The NRA-ILA will continue to send legislative updates as details become available. However, it is of the utmost importance that you act NOW to stop this gun and magazine ban. Call your state Senator IMMEDIATELY and express your opposition to banning firearms or magazines and urge them to vote against House Bills 815 and 1263.

To reach the main line for the Illinois General Assembly, please call 217-782-2000.

Contact information for your state legislators can be found by clicking here.

(Editor’s note: Bold added to Ban, at a minimum, all detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles and pistols)

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (http://www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Tags: Antonio Munoz, assault weapons, assault weapons bans, AWB, Chicago Democrats, Dan Kotowski, Democrats, gun bans, gun control, gun registrations, handguns, high-capacity ammunition magazines, high-capacity magazine bans, Illinois, Illinois Democrats, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois HB1263, Illinois HB815, Illinois House Bill 1263, Illinois House Bill 815, Illinois Senate, Illinois Senate Public Health Committee, Illinois State Police, John Cullerton, magazine bans, magazine registrations, National Rifle Association, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, NRA, NRA-ILA, Pat Quinn, police, rifles, semi-automatic firearms, shooting ranges, state government, State of Illinois

Illinois Senate Democrats Push Two Bills That Ban, Register ‘Assault Weapons,’ ‘High-Capacity’ Ammunition Magazines

“I urge the full Senate to follow the committee’s lead and quickly pass this important legislation.”

-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, commenting on two gun “control” bills that passed out of the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee tonight, setting the stage for a possible floor vote Thursday

Here’s the latest on the gun and “high-capacity” ammunition magazine bans expected to be pushed through by Democrats in the “lame duck” session (January 2-9) of the Illinois General Assembly. From the Associated Press this evening:

Illinois Senate Democrats who want assault-weapon restrictions will split the issue into separate votes on high-capacity ammunition clips and the guns themselves.

Democratic Sen. Dan Kotowski (koh-TOW’-skee) of Park Ridge told The Associated Press he intends to press legislation to limit ammunition magazines to ten or fewer rounds…

Chicago Democratic Sen. Tony Munoz is expected to sponsor the second bill banning assault weapons “designed for war.”

Uh-oh. As I was typing this the following hit the newswires. From the Associated Press a short time ago:

An Illinois Senate committee, in a party-line vote, has approved restrictions on semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

One measure would ban the sale of semiautomatic handguns and rifles. People who currently own such weapons could keep them, but would have to register them.

The second proposal would limit ammunition magazines to 10 or fewer rounds.

(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)

Semi-automatic rifle and handgun ban?

Gun registration?

That’s what the AP is reporting.

Barnini Chakraborty noted on the FOX News site today:

The state Senate got back to work Wednesday. The House plans to return Monday. Both legislative bodies are working against a Jan. 9 deadline — when the state’s new General Assembly will be sworn-in.

That being the case, looks for Illinois Democrats to try and make the proposed gun and magazines bans- and gun registry- the law in Illinois by a week from today.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (http://www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Sources:

“Illinois Senate to address bans on guns, clips.” Associated Press. 2 Jan. 2013. (http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/local/article_27c39e22-553e-11e2-9913-001a4bcf6878.html). 2 Jan. 2013.

“Ill. Senate committee approves bans on guns, clips.” Associated Press. 2 Jan. 2013. (http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Ill-Senate-committee-approves-bans-on-guns-clips-4162513.php). 2 Jan. 2013.

Chakraborty, Barnini. “Illinois Dems press forward with gun control bills, firearms group warns of ‘no exemptions’” FOX News. 2 Jan. 2013. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/02/illinois-dems-press-forward-with-gun-control-bills-firearms-group-warns-no/). 2 Jan. 2013.

Tags: assault weapons, assault weapons bans, AWB, Chicago, City of Chicago, Dan Kotowski, Democrats, gun bans, gun control, gun registrations, handguns, high-capacity ammunition magazines, high-capacity magazine bans, Illinois, Illinois Democrats, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Senate, Rahm Emanuel, rifles, state government, State of Illinois, Tony Munoz