This week has seen a flurry of firearm-related activity in Springfield, including anti-gun politicians turning on each other. On Monday, anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) blamed the lobbyists for the City of Chicago for not keeping his staff informed of the status of anti-gun legislation until it is too late. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D), who has been aggressively promoting a wide-ranging anti-gun agenda, defended his lobbyists and rejected the claims of Blagojevich, as did the media. The apparent frustration anti-gun lawmakers are exhibiting likely stems from their inability to steamroll their attacks on the Second Amendment through the legislature, compounded by the success NRA and the pro-gun community has had advancing legislation that will protect our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
In the House, pro-gun bills awaiting a vote by the full chamber are: HB 136, which establishes remedies for law-abiding citizens should their application for a FOID card take longer than 30 days; HB 340, which eliminates the waiting period requirement when trading one firearm for another; HB 341, which deals with gun shows, destruction of records on law-abiding gun owners maintained by the Illinois State Police, and statewide preemption of local gun laws (except for in the City of Chicago); HB 478, which would require any local ordinance prohibiting firearms to include an exception for self defense; HB 716, which clarifies when the waiting period on firearm purchases begins; HB 824, which requires the return of seized firearms when a defendant is found not guilty or charges are dismissed; HB 935, which requires the destruction of records on individuals when a firearm transfer has not been denied; HB 936, which preempts local municipalities from enacting their own restrictions on rifles and shotguns; HB 937 which preempts local municipalities from enacting their own restrictions on firearms used for hunting; HB 2567, which would establish a Right-to-Carry permit system; HB 2568, which preempts local municipalities (except for Chicago) from enacting their own restrictions on rifles and shotguns; and HB 2607, another Right-to-Carry bill.
On the anti-gun side, legislation pending a floor vote in the House includes: HB 794, an attack on gun shows; HB 990, which would create the bureaucratic redundancy of requiring all FFL holders to also be licensed as a firearm dealer by the state; HB 1098, which seeks to ban .50 cal. rifles and ammunition; HB 1349, a so-called "smart gun" bill; HB 2414, which seeks to ban certain semi-automatic firearms; and HB 3849, which seeks to allow for reckless lawsuits against gun dealers. In the Senate, pro-gun legislation includes: SB 56 and SB 57, each of which are similar to HB 341; SB 2103, a range protection bill; and SB 2104, which seeks to eliminate restrictions on transporting firearms imposed by municipalities. On the anti-gun side, there is SB 546, an attack on gun shows. Of course, other threats could emerge, so please be sure to contact your lawmakers and urge them to support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms by supporting the pro-gun bills mentioned above, and opposing bills that attack our freedom. The legislature will not be in session for the next two weeks, so now would be a good time to try to set up a personal meeting with your state lawmakers while they may be in their district.
You can find contact information for your legislators by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org.
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