On October 20, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D), State Senator John Cullerton (D), and State Representative Karen May (D) held a press conference in Chicago to launch their campaign to pass a ban on semi-automatic firearms in Illinois. Also in attendance was the anti-gun extremist organization the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence—a group that has called Members of Congress "arrogant and gutless" for allowing the failed federal ban to expire. Although a study of the recently expired federal ban found that the affected firearms were rarely used in crime, and even supporters of the federal ban admit that it was more symbolic than a tool for fighting crime, supporters of this proposed statewide ban have promised an all-out assault on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms during the Fall Veto Session in November. Cullerton stated that his plan is to "strengthen the law in the next General Assembly," which should cause anyone who owns any semi-automatic firearm to expect their guns to be on the banned list eventually.
Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) did not attend Wednesday’s event to support the anti-gun cadre that was present, but the Chicago Tribune reports he has "vowed to back their efforts." It is critical that the pro-gun community in Illinois respond to this absurd call for a ban that has already been proven worthless. NRA members can help defeat the anti-gun efforts of Madigan, Cullerton, May, Blagojevich, et al., by contacting their State Representatives and Senators TODAY, and urging them to oppose any efforts to ban semi-automatic firearms during the Fall Veto Session. Ask them for a firm commitment to support law-abiding gun owners and a promise to oppose this Chicago-based campaign. The Senate can be reached by calling (217) 782-4517, and the House can be reached at (217) 782-8223. For additional contact information, please use the "Write Your Representatives" feature located at www.NRAILA.org.
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