The Illinois House has approved a ban on certain types of semiautomatic weapons.
The legislation passed on a 64-43 vote early Friday and now moves to the Senate, where it would take 30 votes to pass in the lame-duck session that ends Tuesday.
The bill bans assault rifles, rapid-fire devices, and magazines over 12 rounds. The legislation was highly controversial with several days of committee hearings for public input.
It was a priority for Gov. J.B. Pritzker in his reelection bid after a July 4th parade shooting in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park killed seven and injured 30.
Critics, including State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), say the ban is unconstitutional and bad for Illinois manufacturing, and add it wouldn’t survive a court challenge.
“Firearm manufacturers based in the 71st District and throughout Illinois will be pushed out of Illinois by this unconstitutional gun ban,” said Swanson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Army and Illinois Army National Guard who was stationed at Rock Island Arsenal. “The Chicago Democrats pushing for this bill know this is an unconstitutional gun grab, as well as, likely, a violation of interstate commerce provisions of the United States Constitution. I was proud to protect the Second Amendment and our Constitutional rights with my NO vote on this gun ban.”
Along with the City of Galesburg, Swanson represents the Geneseo, the home of Springfield Armory, as well as several hunting supply stores and firearm dealers throughout the district.
“Illinois’ firearm manufacturers create jobs and economic development in our communities,” Swanson says in a release issued Friday. “This bill prevents current firearm manufacturers from selling Illinois-made firearms to law-abiding gun owners in our state and is a misguided threat to small businesses that employ hardworking, taxpaying residents.”
Swanson adds that the bill creates a government-managed database of serial numbers of legacy firearms. The brand new firearm registration system would record legacy firearms legally owned in Illinois, as well as require FOID card holders to report any legacy firearms they own.
“Multiple court cases have found gun bans unconstitutional, unworkable and unacceptable in recognizing the Second Amendment Rights of United States citizens,” Swanson said. “I expect this ban will be challenged successfully in the courts should it ever become law, as well. Instead of taking guns away from law-abiding citizens, we need to prosecute and punish criminals who commit crimes with a firearm. There are no penalty enhancements for the criminals in this bill, but numerous new penalties if an otherwise law-abiding gun owner fails to register legacy firearms.”
The legislation moves on to the Senate now.
