Governor signs assault weapons ban into law

Posted on January 11, 2023
With the governor’s signature Tuesday night, Illinois is now the ninth state to ban assault weapons. (Twitter/Emanuel “Chris” Welch)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The assault weapons ban – which has the support of the House and Senate Democrats – was signed into law Tuesday night by Gov. JB Pritzker.

Supermajority Democrats say it’s vital.

“2023 has just barely begun but already there have been 1,151 gun violence deaths in our country,” said State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie).

“A lot of you guys despise our Founders,” said State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) “and you casually cast aside the principles that this country was founded on, but our Founding Fathers knew what they were doing. See, they had experienced the tyranny of the majority, and they vowed that this was never going to happen again in our country.”

The bill “immediately ends the sale, delivery, and purchase of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” said House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) in presenting the bill. “This legislation includes a comprehensive detail and updated list of assault weapons subject to the ban.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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