Senate backs law to override local gun bans
By Christi Parsons, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporters Ray Long and Lisa Black contributed to this report
Published November 10, 2004
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Senate voted Tuesday to let courts ignore local gun bans in cases where a gun owner uses a firearm in self-defense, overriding by a healthy margin a veto of the measure.
With several members calling it a common sense proposal, senators voted to trump the governor's veto 40-18--with two more affirmative votes than the bill received when legislators passed it last spring.
Commonly known as the "Wilmette bill," the measure surfaced as a result of the case of Hale DeMar, who shot an intruder in his Wilmette home last winter and was cited for violating a village ordinance against possession of a handgun.
Critics of the bill agree with Gov. Rod Blagojevich that the measure unjustly trumps the right of local officials to decide such matters for themselves. But supporters say that burglars and others who intrude into private homes and businesses ought to be on notice that the occupants may be armed.
"Maybe this will send a message," said Sen. George Shadid (D-Edwards). "You're not going to break into somebody's home without some repercussions."
Late last month, a Cook County judge dismissed DeMar's claim that the law violated his constitutional rights. He faces a fine for the ordinance violation and is set to appear in court in December. Efforts to reach DeMar on Tuesday were unsuccessful, and his lawyer declined to comment.
The veto override attempt now moves to the House, which also gave the bill strong support when it originally passed in the spring.
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By Christi Parsons, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporters Ray Long and Lisa Black contributed to this report
Published November 10, 2004
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Senate voted Tuesday to let courts ignore local gun bans in cases where a gun owner uses a firearm in self-defense, overriding by a healthy margin a veto of the measure.
With several members calling it a common sense proposal, senators voted to trump the governor's veto 40-18--with two more affirmative votes than the bill received when legislators passed it last spring.
Commonly known as the "Wilmette bill," the measure surfaced as a result of the case of Hale DeMar, who shot an intruder in his Wilmette home last winter and was cited for violating a village ordinance against possession of a handgun.
Critics of the bill agree with Gov. Rod Blagojevich that the measure unjustly trumps the right of local officials to decide such matters for themselves. But supporters say that burglars and others who intrude into private homes and businesses ought to be on notice that the occupants may be armed.
"Maybe this will send a message," said Sen. George Shadid (D-Edwards). "You're not going to break into somebody's home without some repercussions."
Late last month, a Cook County judge dismissed DeMar's claim that the law violated his constitutional rights. He faces a fine for the ordinance violation and is set to appear in court in December. Efforts to reach DeMar on Tuesday were unsuccessful, and his lawyer declined to comment.
The veto override attempt now moves to the House, which also gave the bill strong support when it originally passed in the spring.
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Uh... It was vetoed. This is the over-ride vote.