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http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/02/28/news/local/doc4403dd43ea6ad272692542.txt
Push for assault weapon ban hits roadblock
By Kurt Erickson and Tory Brecht | Comments(6)
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s renewed push for a statewide ban on assault weapons may not be called for a vote this spring.
One of his top allies in the General Assembly said Monday that the issue might be just too contentious to move forward before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn the spring legislative session April 7.
“I don’t think anything will happen with that,” said Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, who is co-chairman of the governor’s re-election effort. “It would be very difficult to pass that over here.”
His negative assessment comes only five weeks after Blagojevich made the assault weapons ban a cornerstone of his State of the State speech.
A federal ban on the weapons expired in September 2004, and Blagojevich wants Illinois lawmakers to approve legislation that would ban the manufacture, possession and delivery of semiautomatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices and the .50-caliber rifle.
The proposed legislation is a major concern for the owners of the Springfield Armory in Geneseo.
The company — with roots reaching back into American history to the Revolutionary War — has been one of the largest employers in the northwestern Illinois city since its arrival in 1974.
“Our guns would no longer be able to be manufactured, owned or sold in Illinois,” said Dennis Reese, who owns the business along with his brother, Tom. “It would require us to move out of the state.”
Reese said 90 percent of their sales are to commercial gun sellers. While the company also sells some weapons to law enforcement agencies, which would still be allowed under the proposed legislation, the percentage is too small to allow them to keep production in Illinois, he said.
An attempt to pass a state
version of the federal law during May fell short in the Illinois House by three votes.
Since then, supporters have been working to craft amendments to the legislation that are aimed at securing votes for the proposal. Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said backers of the ban want to make sure they have enough support before it is called for another vote.
“It’s going to be a close vote either way,” he said.
The measure is pending in the House. If it won approval in that chamber, Jones’ comments cast doubt on whether it would move through the Senate en route to the governor’s desk.
Gun rights advocates have argued that the federal assault weapons ban did not have any effect on national crime rates. They also have contended that such a ban would hurt hunters, sportsmen and gun collectors.
But Blagojevich and many Chicago-area lawmakers say the guns affected by the ban are better suited for military combat, not hunting.
The Springfield Armory employs 165 people. Ownership or manufacture of the three major types of weapons it makes — the M1A rifle, 1911 A1 handgun and XD pistol — would be forbidden under the governor’s proposed bill.
Reese called it “feel good” legislation and said the governor inaccurately uses the term “assault rifle” to describe the types of weapons his company makes.
“Technically, an assault rifle is a machine gun,” he said. “Our rifles are semi-automatic, civilian-owned and legal firearms made with a military origin and design, but made to very strict standards. It’s not fair to pick out a category of rifle simply because of how they look. But this isn’t the first time the governor has attempted to get us legislated right out of the state.”
Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said the governor continues to play an active role in promoting the ban.
“We’re doing everything we can to pass it,” she said. “We feel very strongly about the ban.”
Jones said his belief that the measure will not come up for a vote this spring is not because this is an election year. But, he acknowledged, “You’ve got some members who ... are against any gun control.”
Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, who has been an avid supporter of the ban, said the legislation may be better suited for a vote in the fall veto session or next spring, when it is not an election year.
“I’m predicting that, as a result of the election, there will be more people willing to vote for reasonable gun control measures so that next year we will have a better chance to pass it,” he said.
The Reeses, along with four other gun manufacturers from around the state, will travel to Springfield on Wednesday to speak with the Legislature.
“We think there’s a huge amount of misinformation by the anti-gunners that is being given to legislators,” he said. “We aren’t going to take this lying down. We want to stay in the state where we grew up and where we live and work.”
Quad-City Times Springfield Bureau chief Kurt Erickson can be contacted at (217) 782-1249 or [email protected].
Tory Brecht can be contacted at (563) 383-2329 or [email protected].
Email this story Print this story
Push for assault weapon ban hits roadblock
By Kurt Erickson and Tory Brecht | Comments(6)
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s renewed push for a statewide ban on assault weapons may not be called for a vote this spring.
One of his top allies in the General Assembly said Monday that the issue might be just too contentious to move forward before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn the spring legislative session April 7.
“I don’t think anything will happen with that,” said Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, who is co-chairman of the governor’s re-election effort. “It would be very difficult to pass that over here.”
His negative assessment comes only five weeks after Blagojevich made the assault weapons ban a cornerstone of his State of the State speech.
A federal ban on the weapons expired in September 2004, and Blagojevich wants Illinois lawmakers to approve legislation that would ban the manufacture, possession and delivery of semiautomatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices and the .50-caliber rifle.
The proposed legislation is a major concern for the owners of the Springfield Armory in Geneseo.
The company — with roots reaching back into American history to the Revolutionary War — has been one of the largest employers in the northwestern Illinois city since its arrival in 1974.
“Our guns would no longer be able to be manufactured, owned or sold in Illinois,” said Dennis Reese, who owns the business along with his brother, Tom. “It would require us to move out of the state.”
Reese said 90 percent of their sales are to commercial gun sellers. While the company also sells some weapons to law enforcement agencies, which would still be allowed under the proposed legislation, the percentage is too small to allow them to keep production in Illinois, he said.
An attempt to pass a state
version of the federal law during May fell short in the Illinois House by three votes.
Since then, supporters have been working to craft amendments to the legislation that are aimed at securing votes for the proposal. Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said backers of the ban want to make sure they have enough support before it is called for another vote.
“It’s going to be a close vote either way,” he said.
The measure is pending in the House. If it won approval in that chamber, Jones’ comments cast doubt on whether it would move through the Senate en route to the governor’s desk.
Gun rights advocates have argued that the federal assault weapons ban did not have any effect on national crime rates. They also have contended that such a ban would hurt hunters, sportsmen and gun collectors.
But Blagojevich and many Chicago-area lawmakers say the guns affected by the ban are better suited for military combat, not hunting.
The Springfield Armory employs 165 people. Ownership or manufacture of the three major types of weapons it makes — the M1A rifle, 1911 A1 handgun and XD pistol — would be forbidden under the governor’s proposed bill.
Reese called it “feel good” legislation and said the governor inaccurately uses the term “assault rifle” to describe the types of weapons his company makes.
“Technically, an assault rifle is a machine gun,” he said. “Our rifles are semi-automatic, civilian-owned and legal firearms made with a military origin and design, but made to very strict standards. It’s not fair to pick out a category of rifle simply because of how they look. But this isn’t the first time the governor has attempted to get us legislated right out of the state.”
Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said the governor continues to play an active role in promoting the ban.
“We’re doing everything we can to pass it,” she said. “We feel very strongly about the ban.”
Jones said his belief that the measure will not come up for a vote this spring is not because this is an election year. But, he acknowledged, “You’ve got some members who ... are against any gun control.”
Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, who has been an avid supporter of the ban, said the legislation may be better suited for a vote in the fall veto session or next spring, when it is not an election year.
“I’m predicting that, as a result of the election, there will be more people willing to vote for reasonable gun control measures so that next year we will have a better chance to pass it,” he said.
The Reeses, along with four other gun manufacturers from around the state, will travel to Springfield on Wednesday to speak with the Legislature.
“We think there’s a huge amount of misinformation by the anti-gunners that is being given to legislators,” he said. “We aren’t going to take this lying down. We want to stay in the state where we grew up and where we live and work.”
Quad-City Times Springfield Bureau chief Kurt Erickson can be contacted at (217) 782-1249 or [email protected].
Tory Brecht can be contacted at (563) 383-2329 or [email protected].
Email this story Print this story
