On a sunny Saturday afternoon, February 11th, State Senator Julie Morrison and State Representative Bob Morgan shared the inside story about the Protect Illinois Communities Act, commonly referred to as the Illinois Assault Weapons Ban, with an engaged audience of more than 60 Democrats. The speakers, both of whose districts include Lake County, talked about what this significant legislation does and how it got passed. The event was part of Tenth Dems University’s Let’s Talk Politics series and was held at Max & Benny’s Restaurant and Delicatessen in Northbrook.
Both speakers explained how the Protect Illinois Communities Act not only bans assault weapons in Illinois, but also limits purchases of high-capacity magazines and bump stocks, which are devices that turn an ordinary handgun into an automatic weapon that discharges scores of bullets with a single trigger pull. They shared the story of their success in passing this impactful law.
Representative Morgan shared that Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law the day it passed, effective immediately. The legislature and the governor took this unusual step to preempt a likely wave of assault weapons purchases during any interim between the bill’s passage and the law’s effective date.
A lively Q & A session closed out the event. Attendees were interested in additional gun violence prevention measures, like legislation requiring safe storage of guns by owners and vendors; improved red flag laws and increased mental health funding; mandating liability insurance for gun owners; taxing bullets; and funding more public service announcements about gun violence and ways to reduce it.
Following the program, many of the attendees stayed at Max & Benny’s to continue the conversation over dinner.
