By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – A southern Illinois sheriff, who says it’s unconstitutional for him to enforce Illinois’ new assault weapons ban, says emphasis on mental health works. And if the question is whether public leaders will pony up the money needed for it, Crawford County’s William Rutan says – it’s already being done.
“I have more people in jail now getting counseling from certified counseling than we’ve ever had,” said the sheriff. “And we were able to make that happen through help from the health department … and other grants out there.”
Rutan and other sheriffs joined State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) at the Crawford County courthouse in Robinson, Ill., to say the real problem is not the gun itself.
“We need to restore parental rights. When it comes the breakdown of the home here in the state of Illinois, when it comes to legislators putting burdensome regulations on businesses with people leaving the state of Illinois,” said Niemerg. “We need to run the gamut on fixing the mental health issue here in Illinois, and it doesn’t just start and stop with one particular issue – as the Democrats claim that it does by enacting more gun control.”
Niemerg said supermajority Democrats this month congratulated themselves for passing a bill which does nothing.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
