Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
[size=huge]Blagojevich calls for state ban on assault weapons[/size]
[size=large]Governor sets condition for signing younger gun ownership bill[/size]
Stories
Lower gun-buying age ripped
March 30, 2004
By Maura Kelly
Associated Press Writer
Published March 30, 2004, 5:25 PM CST
Gov. Rod Blagojevich called for a ban Tuesday on assault weapons in Illinois and said if lawmakers don't send him such a measure he will veto legislation lowering the minimum age to obtain a firearm owner's identification card without parental consent.
The federal ban on manufacturing and importing at least 19 types of common military-style assault weapons expires Sept. 13. It isn't clear if Congress will extend the ban, so Blagojevich wants to deal with the matter on a state level.
"No one needs assault weapons for hunting,'' the governor said. "No one should need an assault weapon for any purpose unless you're in the military fighting a war.''
llinois law currently doesn't address assault weapons. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has proposed banning assault weapons at least twice in recent years, but his proposals have gone nowhere in the legislature.
"It hasn't had a majority of support,'' said Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. "It didn't have a majority of support when the governor was a state representative, and I don't believe it has a majority of support within the legislature today.''
Blagojevich also said Tuesday that he would veto two other bills to ease gun laws if the legislation reaches his desk.
One bill, already approved by the Senate and pending in the House, would allow a self-defense claim to override municipal handgun bans. The other would allow retired police officers and former military police to carry concealed weapons.
Blagojevich supports allowing retired police officers to carry guns but would veto allowing concealed guns for other groups, including former military police.
"Any bill being used as a Trojan Horse for concealed carry laws is a bill that is bad for Illinois,'' the governor said.
Both chambers have passed versions of a bill that would allow people who break local gun laws to avoid penalties if they used the weapon in self-defense. The legislation stems from a case in Wilmette in which a man shot a burglar who had broken into his home for the second time. Wilmette officials charged the homeowner with breaking the city's ban on handguns.
Each chamber also has approved bills that would lower the minimum age to own a gun in Illinois without parental consent from 21 to 18.
Supporters argue that 18-year-olds are old enough to serve in the military and should be trusted to own firearms. Critics say lowering the age for a firearms owner's card without parental consent would increase violence.
Blagojevich said a ban on assault weapons would be an appropriate trade off for lowering the age for hunters who want to buy hunting rifles.
"If you're asking men and women who are 18 years old to go to Iraq and fight in war and carry a gun and put their lives at risk in war, then it's hard to tell them that they can't go out and purchase a hunting rifle without the consent of their parents, which is what the law allows now,'' the governor said.
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune
There's a poll on whether the 18-year-old bill should pass and we're losing. Nuke it!
[size=large]Governor sets condition for signing younger gun ownership bill[/size]
Stories
Lower gun-buying age ripped
March 30, 2004
By Maura Kelly
Associated Press Writer
Published March 30, 2004, 5:25 PM CST
Gov. Rod Blagojevich called for a ban Tuesday on assault weapons in Illinois and said if lawmakers don't send him such a measure he will veto legislation lowering the minimum age to obtain a firearm owner's identification card without parental consent.
The federal ban on manufacturing and importing at least 19 types of common military-style assault weapons expires Sept. 13. It isn't clear if Congress will extend the ban, so Blagojevich wants to deal with the matter on a state level.
"No one needs assault weapons for hunting,'' the governor said. "No one should need an assault weapon for any purpose unless you're in the military fighting a war.''
llinois law currently doesn't address assault weapons. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has proposed banning assault weapons at least twice in recent years, but his proposals have gone nowhere in the legislature.
"It hasn't had a majority of support,'' said Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. "It didn't have a majority of support when the governor was a state representative, and I don't believe it has a majority of support within the legislature today.''
Blagojevich also said Tuesday that he would veto two other bills to ease gun laws if the legislation reaches his desk.
One bill, already approved by the Senate and pending in the House, would allow a self-defense claim to override municipal handgun bans. The other would allow retired police officers and former military police to carry concealed weapons.
Blagojevich supports allowing retired police officers to carry guns but would veto allowing concealed guns for other groups, including former military police.
"Any bill being used as a Trojan Horse for concealed carry laws is a bill that is bad for Illinois,'' the governor said.
Both chambers have passed versions of a bill that would allow people who break local gun laws to avoid penalties if they used the weapon in self-defense. The legislation stems from a case in Wilmette in which a man shot a burglar who had broken into his home for the second time. Wilmette officials charged the homeowner with breaking the city's ban on handguns.
Each chamber also has approved bills that would lower the minimum age to own a gun in Illinois without parental consent from 21 to 18.
Supporters argue that 18-year-olds are old enough to serve in the military and should be trusted to own firearms. Critics say lowering the age for a firearms owner's card without parental consent would increase violence.
Blagojevich said a ban on assault weapons would be an appropriate trade off for lowering the age for hunters who want to buy hunting rifles.
"If you're asking men and women who are 18 years old to go to Iraq and fight in war and carry a gun and put their lives at risk in war, then it's hard to tell them that they can't go out and purchase a hunting rifle without the consent of their parents, which is what the law allows now,'' the governor said.
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune
There's a poll on whether the 18-year-old bill should pass and we're losing. Nuke it!