On Wednesday, March 14th, the Illinois state Senate voted to pass a number of extreme gun control bills that would expand waiting periods, ban the purchase or possession of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms by law abiding adults aged 18-20, and repeal the preemption law. House Bill 1468, the bill to expand waiting periods, is now heading to Governor Bruce Rauner’s desk. Please contact Gov. Rauner (217-782-0244) and urge him to VETO HB 1468.
In addition House Bills 1465 and 1467 are now heading back to the state House of Representatives for concurrence. Please contact your state Representative to OPPOSE concurrence on HBs 1465 and 1467.
Click the “Take Action” button below to contact Gov. Rauner and your state Representative.
House Bill 1468, sponsored by Representative Jonathan Carroll (D-57), passed by a vote of 43-15. It would require a 72 hour waiting period for certain commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms and .50 BMG caliber rifles. Current Illinois law requires a 72 hour waiting period for handguns and a 24 hour waiting period for long guns. The arbitrary distinction in this bill will cause confusion among firearm sellers about which long guns require a 72 hour waiting period. In addition, it would also ban the sale of these firearms to non-residents. HB 1468 will now head to the Governor’s desk.
House Bill 1465, as amended by Representative Michelle Mussman (D-56), passed by a vote of 33-22. It would deny law-abiding young adults under the age of 21 their Second Amendment rights by prohibiting them from possessing or purchasing commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms, standard capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and .50 BMG caliber rifles. The bill would require adults under the age of 21 to dispose of such firearms within 90 days and to dispose of standard capacity magazines over ten rounds in capacity immediately. In addition, language in the bill would prohibit out-of-state visitors from being present in Illinois for longer than 24 hours with such firearms or standard capacity magazines. HB 1465 will now return to the state House for concurrence.
House Bill 1467, sponsored by Representative Martin Moylan (D-55), passed by a vote of 37-16. As amended by Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13), it would repeal the firearm preemption law in Illinois. Firearm preemption laws ensure that fundamental Second Amendment rights are not diluted or distorted through controversial local policies and help prevent a confusing patchwork of gun control laws which make it difficult for gun owners to ensure that they are following the law. Furthermore, Second Amendment rights are guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of where they live.
In addition, it includes broad and vague language could be interpreted to ban components used on competition grade firearms. It would ban various antique and historical reproduction firearms such as Gatling guns, which are owned by collectors and historical reenactors and require owners of “bump stocks” and “trigger cranks” to dispose of them within 90 days. HB 1467 will now return to the state House for concurrence.
Again, please use the “Take Action” button above to ask Gov. Rauner (217-782-0244) to VETO HB 1468 and your state Representative to OPPOSE concurrence on HBs 1465 and 1467.