Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a semi-automatic assault weapon, an assault weapon attachment, any .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge. Provides that beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a person who possessed a prohibited weapon, device, or attachment before the effective date of this amendatory Act if the person has provided proof of ownership to the Department of State Police within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, such person may transfer such device only to an heir, an individual residing in another state maintaining that device in another state, or a dealer licensed as a federal firearms dealer. Specifies penalties for violations. Provides exemptions. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Gun Control

I have long admired those who are skillful hunters and believe strongly in their rights. I only wish they would get a few more of the deer that cause accident and injury on our roads here in eastern Illinois! Further, I believe that the right to own a gun or other firearm is among one of the most basic and important rights guaranteed by the Founding Fathers. The second amendment to the Constitution of the United States absolutely guarantees that freedom and I know of no amendment to the Constitution that has ever changed this. The Amendment is clear: “...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” This is simply and clearly stated and there are not exceptions noted. Based on the belief that we are a government of laws and not of men, our legislators have throughout the years, passed various laws and rules regarding this right. We have plenty of laws in this Country regarding regulating the use of guns and other weapons. It is my opinion that we need to enforce our existing laws. We do not need an additional law or two or three concerning guns and gun ownership! Each time we have attempted to regulate the use of firearms, law abiding citizens followed the rules, and criminals were the winners.

Since I am involved in education, I have studied the instances of school violence which have plagued our country for the past few years. I served on the Governor’s Safe School Task Force. The proliferation of violence in society and on school campuses cannot be blamed on gun ownership or lax gun laws. At Columbine, perhaps the most well known school violence incident, over a dozen gun laws were violated. Is it rational to think that additional laws restricting the use of guns would have helped to avoid that tragedy? No. The fact is we have all of the laws we need and likely more than we need. I absolutely support the right of a person to bear arms as the Founding Fathers intended