Your Calls Made a Difference in Springfield -- But You Must Stay Vigilant!
Illinois Senators were poised to vote today on two bills that aimed to trample on your individual rights by imposing sweeping semi-automatic and magazine bans, requiring registration of firearms and magazines, and crippling shooting ranges through onerous restrictions. However, thanks to your timely action and the volume of telephone calls to state legislators in Springfield, the Senate leadership decided to postpone its votes on these issues. These legislative threats have not yet been defeated and can still be voted on as early as Tuesday, January 8 when the Senate reconvenes for the last two days of its lame duck session. In order to defeat these assaults on your constitutional rights as law-abiding citizens, it is critical that you contact your state Senator IMMEDIATELY to express your opposition to House Bills 815 and 1263 and any additional anti-gun amendments. If you own a semi-automatic firearm or detachable magazine, under the proposed legislation they may be banned, taxed and registered, and you could easily become a felon unless you act NOW!
Anti-gun legislators led by Senate President John Cullerton and backed by Governor Patrick Quinn (D) have been garnering support for draconian gun and magazine bans, and gun and magazine registration and shooting range restrictions in the state Legislature. House Bill 1263, amended to include a ban on many commonly owned firearms passed last night in the Senate Public Health Committee by a 6 to 4 vote. Also House Bill 815, amended to include a magazine ban and shooting range restrictions, passed by a 6 to 3 vote in that same committee. Additionally, amendments have been filed to remove the hunting exception and could also be introduced and considered on the Senate floor. These actions prove once again that Chicago politicians seem more focused on creating new classes of criminals out of law-abiding citizens than dealing effectively with their current violent crime problems. Both of these bills are expected to be considered on the Senate floor as early as Tuesday for their third and final vote, and this is where the real fight will take place to maintain your Second Amendment rights and defeat Senate President Cullerton's anti-gun agenda.
As amended, House Bill 815 would:
- Prohibit anyone without a FOID card from using a commercial shooting range, which in many cases would make it impossible to introduce new shooters to the safe and responsible use of firearms.
- Grant the State Police broad discretion to impose design, construction and operation standards that could shut down most commercial shooting ranges.
- Ban possession of magazines and other feeding devices that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. A "grandfather clause" would require registration by owners of such devices and give the State Police discretion to impose and charge fees. Registration would require "proof of ownership" that could be impossible for most people to provide, and even registered owners could not transfer magazines within Illinois, except to an heir or a licensed dealer. Transfers of "grandfathered magazines" would have to be reported to the ISP.
- Violations of this magazine ban would be a felony. Failure to report theft or loss of a magazine would be a misdemeanor until the third violation, which would be a felony.
As amended, House Bill 1263 would:
- Ban, at a minimum, all detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles and pistols. Remington 7400 deer rifles, Ruger 10/22 squirrel guns, Glocks, 1911s, etc. This ban would include about 80% of handguns now sold in the U.S.
- Possibly ban all semi-automatic rifles and even revolvers or single-shot pistols with the capacity to accept muzzle brakes or compensators.
- Ban "assault weapon attachments," so possession of a thumbhole stock, a pistol grip,or a fore-end (a "shroud" that "partially or completely encircles the barrel") would be a crime even if you didn't possess a firearm.
- Ban all .50 BMG rifles.
- Contains "grandfather" provisions that would require registration by owners of devices and give the State Police discretion to impose and charge fees. Registration would require "proof of ownership."
- Create felony penalties for violation of this ban on guns or attachments.
- Create lost and stolen penalties that would criminalize victims of gun theft.
Anti-gun politicians are attempting to sacrifice your constitutional rights as a scapegoat for the criminal acts of violence in Chicago by gangs and drug dealers. Don't let them succeed in banning your firearms or magazines as an excuse for stopping criminals and lunatics from misusing them. Criminals -- by definition -- violate laws, especially gun control laws, including often: murder, rape, robbery, drug-dealing, gang violence, firearm theft, carrying concealed firearms without a license/permit, federal gun-free school zones. They do not obey gun bans, register their firearms, or get subjected to any gun control schemes (like the lone state ban on carrying concealed firearms for self-defense) that only affect and penalize law-abiding citizens like you. Your telephone calls TODAY will determine the outcome of this very serious assault on your Second Amendment rights.
The NRA-ILA will continue to send legislative updates as details become available. However, it is of the utmost importance that you act NOW to stop this gun and magazine ban. Call your state Senator IMMEDIATELY and express your opposition to banning firearms or magazines and urge them to vote against House Bills 815 and 1263.
To reach the main line for the Illinois General Assembly, please call 217-782-2000.
Contact information for your state legislators can be found by clicking here.
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