HANDGUN BILL SHOT DOWN
BY MATT ADRIAN
FOR THE SOUTHERN
Fri May 16 2003
SPRINGFIELD -- The Senate voted down legislation Friday that would have limited people to buying no more than one handgun a month.
The legislation's sponsors said they were attempting stop "straw buyers" from purchasing several handguns legally and then selling them to criminals.
"Isn't one handgun a month pretty reasonable?" asked Sen. John J. Cullerton, D-Chicago, one of the sponsors.
The legislation would have limited a registered gun owner to purchasing one handgun a month. However, there would be no limit on the number of rifles or shotguns registered gun owners could purchase. The legislation would also have allowed people to buy more than one handgun a month if they first received written permission from the state police.
Gun control opponents called the legislation an infringement on second amendment rights.
"To infringe upon one right is to infringe on other portions of the Bill of Rights," said Sen. Ed Petka, R-Plainfield.
Petka also argued the measure would not stop people from committing crimes.
"It's not what is in the hand of a person that generates the crime," Petka said. "It's what is in a person's heart and mind."
Gun control advocates argued that downstate legislators don't understand the negative effect firearms have in cities such as Chicago.
"You are outraged?" asked Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford, D-Maywood. "Think about the outrage of family members that have to bury their babies."
The legislation failed 36-23. No local lawmakers supported the proposal.
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