Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) signed into law an
assault-style weapons ban
in his state on Tuesday.
The bill blitzed through the legislature earlier in the day. It was first
passed
by the Senate in a 34-20 vote,
followed hours after
by the House, which voted 68-41 in favor. The bill bans the sale, delivery, and purchase of so-called ”
assault weapons
,” as defined by the bill, which categorizes more than 100 different types of rifles, shotguns, and pistols to be banned. Those who already own the weapons will not have to surrender them to authorities, but they will need to register them.
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE PASSES ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS BAN
Pritzker announced his signing of the bill over Twitter.
“I’m tired of living in a world where a mass shooting needs a title so you know which one we’re referring to,” the governor said. “I just signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which immediately bans the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in IL.”
I’m tired of living in a world where a mass shooting needs a title so you know which one we’re referring to.
I just signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which immediately bans the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in IL. pic.twitter.com/xvVfrlLSaU
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) January 11, 2023
“No Illinoisan should have to go through life fearing their loved one could be next in an ever-growing list of mass shooting victims,” he continued. “We will keep fighting to ensure that future generations only hear about massacres like Highland Park, Sandy Hook, and Uvalde in their textbooks.”
Pritzker’s signing of the bill came as no surprise, as he had vowed to sign it previously if it passed through the legislature. The rapid pace through which the bill passed through the legislature was due to the fact that new lawmakers would be sworn in on Wednesday.
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Republican lawmakers and gun rights groups decried the bill as infringing on citizens’
Second Amendment
rights.
“Not only does this tyrannical proposition infringe on the rights of all Illinois citizens, but it is also extremely dangerous,” Gun Owners of America said about the bill. “These commonly owned semi-automatic firearms are used countless times every year to save lives and deter crime. Banning them will only prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing the best firearm to defend themselves. Not to mention, the requirement to register currently owned firearms is vehemently unconstitutional.”
