Gun violence survivors, safety advocates head to Springfield to rally for assault-style weapons ban in Illinois

By Jackie Kostek for CBS Chicago

January 5, 2022

CHICAGO - Busloads of gun violence survivors, gun safety advocates, and elected officials are headed to Springfield Thursday morning for a rally.

They're pushing to ban assault weapons in Illinois.

CBS 2's Jackie Kostek reported from Highland Park where one of those buses departed.

Buses left Highland Park around 8 a.m. for a rally planned in Springfield just after noon.

There are buses of people leaving from three areas - Highland Park, Evanston, and the South Side of the city.

They're all heading to the capitol for one reason - to urge lawmakers in a lame-duck session to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which would ban assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines, and raise the FOID card age from 18 to 21.

It's the latest version of a bill that has stalled for years but found renewed action after the Highland Park shooting six months ago.

"One of the most important ways that we honor those that we've lost is with action," said Rachel Jacoby, March for our Lives organizer.

Many are hoping for change because as mother-of-two Liz Minnella says, these advocates have had "enough."

"It's a simple message. We've had enough of gun violence; we've had enough thoughts and prayers," Minnella said. "Six months ago today, somebody hunted our neighbors with an assault weapon and it's enough. He purchased it legally, it's ridiculous."

Minella says no matter what happens during this lame-duck session, she and others will continue to fight for gun control legislation because they believe they do have power. Something she was reminded of after emailing an elected official - urging him to do something.

"He wrote back and said, 'change doesn't come from lawmakers, it comes to lawmakers.' From people like us demanding it. From people like us organizing, getting together, strength in numbers," she said.  

Bruce Sundheim, the husband of one of seven parade shooting victims, Jacki Sundheim, spoke about the horror of that day for the first time.

"I was like 'Shot? What do you mean shot?' And she said a lot of people had been shot and then I realized what had happened," he said. "As a society, we have to get to a place where someone can't just wake up and say I'm going to go out and shoot 50 strangers."

As we've been reporting on since the shooting, groups in Highland Park have become fierce advocates for the banning of assault-style weapons, both at the state and federal levels.

Organizers say they are hopeful that these lawmakers will listen to their pleas and take action during this session. It's clear if or when this bill will see a vote.