Illinois Senate Approves Ban on Commonly-Owned Firearms

Monday night saw Illinois legislators approve a bill that would ban certain semi-automatic weapons from being sold or manufactured. These weapons are criticised for being used for self defense and recreation.

The Protecting Illinois Communities Act passed the Illinois Senate on Monday night by a vote margin of 34–20.

The legislation will now return to the state House of Representatives, which passed it on a vote of 64–43 on Jan. 6, for a final vote before it goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (a Democrat) has supported the legislation. He is expected to sign it into effect.

The bill was sponsored in the House by Bob Morgan, a Democrat state representative. The version that passed the lower chamber was changed slightly before the vote. An amendment to increase the age of receiving a Firearms owner identification card from 18 to 21 was withdrawn.

However, the governor criticized the proposed changes on Sunday, arguing the Senate’s version fell short of what was needed, Bloomberg reported. House Speaker Chris Welch described the measure that reached the upper chamber as a “watered-down version” The bill.

The deal reached by lawmakers would ban the manufacture, sale, import, or purchase of semi-automatic weapons immediately and prohibit attachments that increase firepower.

Illinois state Senate President Don Harmon said in a Statement The lawmakers have reached an agreement on “one of the strongest assault weapons bans in the country.”

“Tonight, the Senate passed legislation banning the sale and purchase of assault weapons in Illinois,” Harmon . “Gun violence is an epidemic that is plaguing every corner of this state and the people of Illinois are demanding substantive action.”

The Gun Owners of America (GOA), a Virginia-based group, stated that the bill seeks ban many common firearms and denounced the requirement to register them in the state before the Senate voted.

“Not only does this tyrannical proposition infringe on the rights of all Illinois citizens, but it is also extremely dangerous,” GOA stated in a “a href=”https://www.gunowners.org/il01092023/”>statement.

“These commonly owned semi-automatic firearms are used countless times every year to save lives and deter crime. Banning them will only prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing the best firearm to defend themselves,” The statement went on. “Not to mention, the requirement to register currently owned firearms is vehemently unconstitutional.”

Ban

The legislation is as follows: Amended In the House, several semi-automatic guns are banned, including.50-caliber guns as well as magazines that contain more than 12 ammunition rounds. The bill’s text lists 20 types of pistols or rifles, and five dozen others that will be banned. The bill bans also certain types or brands of 20 pistols and five dozen rifles. “combination[s] of parts” This can be used for assembling a magazine.

The bill also extends the state’s current six-month firearm restraining order (FRO) to up to one year for persons deemed a danger to themselves or others. The family members of a person can also request a firearm restriction order against them.

The Epoch Times previously heard Doug Mayhall, President of the Illinois State Rifle Association, say that this measure allows people to be reported for differences in political views.

“It would change from a family member [being able to request a FRO] and opens it up to anyone,” Mayhall stated. “If you don’t like my political views, you could unfairly give me a lot of grief.”

The amendment would require Americans to register firearms that are currently legal to possess without registration, and to restrict magazines with more than 12 rounds.

“I’m done with the NRA having its way when it comes to mass shootings,” Pritzker, who won a second term as gubernatorial candidate, spoke Monday at his inauguration remarks “Why do we allow anyone to easily purchase a rapid-fire, high-capacity weapon that can kill dozens of unarmed people in under a minute?”

The Institute for Legislative Action, the lobbying wing of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), said after the measure passed the state’s lower chamber that the guns targeted in the bill are what “law-abiding citizens commonly own for self-defense, competition, and recreation.”

Caden Pearson is an Australian reporter. Contact him on [email protected]

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