Illinois Senate passes its own version of an assault weapons ban

Posted on January 10, 2023
Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Hours after a Highland Park mother played a recording of a six-year-old shrieking away from gunfire, members of the Illinois Senate Monday okayed an assault weapons ban.

It came after Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) slammed the House version, one endorsed by Gov. JB Pritzker. The new agreement is too late for Pritzker to crow about in his inaugural speech, but “the legislation is essentially the framework the House sent over,” said Harmon, “with changes recommended by advocates who have been poring over to make sure it is as precise and as effective as possible.”

In committee earlier in the day, after hearing the audio of the scared child, Harmon said it’s impossible for a senator to compete with a six-year-old screaming about gunfire.

State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) called the bill “tyrannous” and promised not to obey it.

The House is expected to take up the bill Tuesday.

HB 5471 has passed the Senate, 34-20.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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