cuchulainn
Member
And you Illinois folks were angry earlier today when he had just three.
from the WBBM news radio site
http://www.wbbm780.com/asp/ViewMoreDetails.asp?ID=19174
from the WBBM news radio site
http://www.wbbm780.com/asp/ViewMoreDetails.asp?ID=19174
Daley Proposes Eleven Gun Control Initiatives
Thursday, February 13, 2003, 2:30 p.m.
By Megan Reichgott
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said Thursday he will introduce a wide-ranging package of gun control bills to the Illinois General Assembly.
The mayor's proposed legislation calls for 11 new initiatives, including banning the sale of semiautomatic, military-style assault weapons. It also calls for restricting handgun purchases to one per person per month and requiring gun dealers and manufacturers to provide police with sample bullets and cartridges, for so-called "gun fingerprints."
"It is much too easy to obtain a handgun in our society," Daley said. "We need realistic and common sense state gun laws."
Other Daley proposals include increasing the waiting period for handgun sales to 10 days from 72 hours, and creating a statewide computer database for gun sales records.
The mayor said many of these bills have failed to pass in previous general assemblies, but now he is more optimistic about success because Democrats recently took control of the state legislature.
"We have a new governor this year, and a number of new legislators," he said. "If some of our bills fail this year, we will be back next year, and the year after that."
Daley might meet opposition to one of his proposals from fellow Democrat Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Daley said he wants to raise the cost of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card to $25 for one year.
The Department of State Police currently charges only $5 for a five-year card.
Blagojevich said Thursday that he agrees with most of the mayor's other proposals, but is against any increase to FOID costs because such an increase doesn't have a chance to pass.
Daley said he will move forward with the proposals anyway.
"If you look at his (Blagojevich's) record he has talked about common sense gun laws," Daley said. "He is going to look at it. His staff is going to look at it and come up where they stand on that issue."
Daley made the announcement alongside Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard and other state legislators at police headquarters. Hillard said tougher gun laws are necessary as higher-caliber weapons become available.
"We are not seeking to limit the legal use of these weapons, but to end the number of tragedies that occur," Hillard said.
State Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago, who appeared with Daley at the press conference, agreed. "These weapons are for hunting, but it's not about animals, it's about human beings," he said.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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