Gun Control Supporters Make Case for Assault Weapons Ban
Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), sponsor of a wide-ranging assault weapons ban bill, speaks during a hearing in Chicago Monday. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
House Democrats appeared resolute and confident Monday they would pass an assault weapon ban when the legislature returns to Springfield next month.
A House committee held the first hearing on a proposed assault weapons ban, HB5855, which was introduced last week in response to the July 4 mass shooting during an Independence Day parade in north suburban Highland Park.
The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), who represents Highland Park in the General Assembly.
The bill would ban a long list of rifles, high capacity magazines for rifles and handguns, and would prevent most people from legally holding a FOID card before the age of 21.
Gun rights supporters say the legislation is unconstitutional and have pledged to file suit if the legislation is enacted. The roughly two hour hearing, which was only to take testimony, did not include any gun supporters and minimal input from Republicans.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said the incident in Highland Park, where a shooter killed seven and injured dozens more, should be a wake up call for politicians.
“Our children knew exactly what to do on the 4th of July because they’ve been training their entire lives for an active shooter,” she said. “What on earth does this say about us?”
Highland Park resident Lauren Bennett, who was shot during the attack, described the shooting, in which she was one of the first people shot.
“In the first few seconds, while most people were unaware of what was happening, I was hit the first time,” Bennett told members of the House Judiciary-Criminal committee. “I felt a tight shock in my back and hip and saw my entire lower left side was bleeding. I knew right then we were under attack.”
Rotering says she recognizes the legislation won’t completely stop gun crimes in the state.
“I recognize that restricting access to assault weapons and large capacity magazines won’t stop all gun violence,” she said. “But banning weapons of war is one common sense step we can take. It’s worth it if we can just save one life.”
Chicago resident Jaquie Algee, who’s son, Kenneth, was murdered in 1995, was clear the legislature needed to act on guns, but also needed to pay attention to gun crimes taking place everyday in the city of Chicago.
“There were ten black kids who were shot and killed in this city [on July 4.] There were 62 who were shot and injured,” she said. “And, yet, the reaction [to Highland Park] far surpasses the reaction that we’ve been given.”
With strong majorities in the House and Senate, it appears Democrats are lined up to pass the bill during the lame duck session in early January, before the current General Assembly ends.
“Now is the time to say that our children, our families, our communities lives are more important than guns,” said Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview). “We must pass [this bill] now.”
Democrats have been working on the bill for months behind closed doors, and the negotiations have not included Republicans, gun rights supporters, or law enforcement.
Two more hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks.