GOP Candidates in 6th Congressional Split on Gun Age Restrictions
Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso, one of the leading GOP contenders in the 6th Congressional District primary, speaks at a candidate forum last month.
No matter the Republican chosen by voters in the southwest and west suburban 6th congressional district next week, they will face a fundraising disadvantage and a map drawn to elect a Democrat to the seat.
That leads some to believe a more moderate position on guns, especially in the aftermath of a school shooting in Texas, may help a Republican win the district.
Rob Cruz of Oak Lawn, who owns a construction firm, says he’s open to discussing raising the age to buy firearms from 18 to 21.
“I’m not sure anymore if an 18-year-old kid should be buying a firearm without their parental consent. You can’t have a concealed carry [permit] if you’re 18-years-old. You have to be 21 to have that weapon and concealed carry with it,” Cruz said. “I think parents need to sign off on kids having weapons in their houses and be a little accountable if something [like the 18-year-old Texas school shooter) were to happen.”
Gary Grasso, an attorney and Mayor of Burr Ridge, said he would be willing to discuss age limits on owning high powered rifles.
“A discussion has to happen regarding age of someone being able to own an AR-15, or go in and buy one on their [18th] birthday. We have restrictions. We restrict people with all kinds of licenses, we can preserve, and I do defend the second amendment, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, and we have a right to protect ourselves,” Grasso said. “But that right should be discussed in the context of should an 18-year-old be able to buy an AR-15, and I’m more than willing to engage in the discussion on that.”
Two other major GOP candidates in the race say they oppose further restrictions on gun ownership.
Scott Kaspar, an attorney from Orland Park opposes a requiring parental permission to obtain a gun between the ages of 18-21.
“We have the laws on the books. It’s a matter of enforcing them,” Kaspar said. “It’s about keeping the guns away from repeat offenders, it’s about keeping them away from people who have mental health issues, and its a matter of protecting our schools.”
Air Force Veteran and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau says he opposes an expansion of red flag laws and making background checks universal.
“It’s a violence problem, it’s a criminal problem, and we need to focus on violence and criminals, not on law abiding gun owners. Everything that I have seen is [people] don’t even understand what [Congress is] proposing because they don’t understand what they’re saying. It’s easy to say ban assault weapons, but what does that mean? Nobody can define what an assault weapon is.”
Both leading Democrats in the field, Congressman Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) and Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-LaGrange) have strongly supported gun control packages. Casten continues to lead fundraising in that primary.
The new 6th District runs from Orland Park and Tinley Park in southern Cook County to Elmhurst in DuPage County. It also includes all or parts of communities like Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Lisle, Burr Ridge, Bridgeview, and Oak Lawn. President Biden won the district by around 11% in 2020, and Governor Pritzker won it by under 6 points in 2018. That indicates a likely toss up district in November.
To view our conversations with 6th district candidates, watch below or click here: