Illinois Dems press forward with gun control bills, firearms group warns of 'no exemptions' By
Barnini ChakrabortyPublished January 02, 2013
FoxNews.com Illinois Senate Democrats appear to be moving forward with new gun control measures in the waning days of the legislative session, with one lawmaker telling FoxNews.com that he will introduce a bill to limit ammunition magazines to 10 or fewer rounds. Another Democratic lawmaker confirmed to FoxNews.com that he is pushing a separate assault-weapons ban.
Amid the developments, the Illinois State Rifle Association issued an “urgent alert” to its members warning them that Democratic legislators would try to push through last-minute anti-gun legislation.
“There would be no exemptions and no grandfathering,” the group stated in its alert. “You would have a very short window to turn in your guns to the state police and avoid prosecution.”
The state rifle association joins other gun-rights advocates in monitoring legislative moves made by state lawmakers. The concern, they say, is that legislators will try to push bills in the lame-duck session that would ban access to military-style assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold dozens of rounds.
Those pushing for enhanced restrictions, though, say stricter rules are needed in the wake of a string of high-profile mass shootings -- most recently the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn had been trying earlier this year to pass new legislation in the wake of the Colorado movie theater shooting, but lawmakers are taking another crack at it.
Democratic state Sen. Dan Kotowski said he plans to introduce a bill that would concentrate on the number of rounds in high-capacity magazines that he says make assault weapons more lethal.
Kotowski sponsored legislation in 2007 that would have prohibited assault weapons and .50-caliber rifles. His bill made it through a Senate committee but died on the floor.
Another Democratic state lawmaker Antonio Munoz, told FoxNews.com that his bill would put a blanket ban on all assault weapons “designed for war.” His legislation was being considered Wednesday night in a public health committee hearing.
Quinn has repeatedly tried to get stricter laws on the books but has fallen short. Calls to the governor’s office for comment on upcoming legislation were not returned.
The state Senate got back to work Wednesday. The House plans to return Monday. Both legislative bodies are working against a Jan. 9 deadline -- when the state’s new General Assembly will be sworn-in.
Gun manufactures in Illinois have already threatened to leave the area if laws limiting guns are put in place. ArmaLite owner Mark Westrom told FoxNews.com that he’s been fielding offers from at least two others states to move his operation if gun control laws in Illinois are pushed through.
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