Bost and Bailey Continue to Spar Over Issues They Agree On
Former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is attempting to draw out his March opponent, Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) in opposition to the state’s assault weapon ban and registry. But, Bost and Bailey already agree on the issue.
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As Darren Bailey continues to attempt to drive the narrative in the his challenge of Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), he continues to have a hard time showing any discernable policy difference with the incumbent.
Bailey, the former state senator and 2022 GOP nominee for governor, has made a social media show in recent days opposing to a new state law requiring registration of assault weapons and some extended magazines.
In a post last week and in a news release Monday, Bailey claimed Bost wouldn’t publicly pronounce his opposition to the assault weapon ban and registry.
“We cannot afford leaders who prioritize bureaucratic overreach over our Constitutional freedoms,” Bailey said in a statement. “The stakes are incredibly high—our rights and freedoms hang in the balance. I have already drawn my line in the sand and taken a stand for the people of our district. Now, it's time for my opponent to do the same.”
Except, we’re told, Bost has been saying publicly in the district “for weeks” that he wouldn’t register any of his firearms with the state.
“I will never register my firearms with the government, especially here in Illinois where power hungry liberals occupy every constitutional office in the state,” Bost said in a statement Monday. “Southern Illinoisans will fight harder than ever before to ensure our 2nd Amendment rights are not infringed upon, just like many of our local law enforcement who have already announced they will not be enforcing this outrageous law.”
Through a spokesman, Bost won’t say what kind of weapons he owns or if they need to be registered. But, we’re told, he won’t be posting the evidence of criminal activity on social media, either.