Illinois lawmakers hear testimony on assault weapon ban legislation
By Sarah Schulte for ABC 7
December 20, 2022
CHICAGO - There was jarring testimony Tuesday at a hearing to consider a ban on assault weapons.
Illinois lawmakers heard from several people, including Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. He talked about the number of guns his employees encounter every day.
"This here folks, this is our reality," Dart said, holding up weapons. "I could have brought boxes of this just this year."
Sheriff Dart and other members of law enforcement say whether it's extended magazines or assault weapons, the amount of firepower officers see on the streets increases dramatically every year.
"Knowing full well the cars we are approaching, the houses we are entering have some of the most lethal weapons you've seen," Dart said.
Dart drew applause as he testified at the final state house hearing on a proposed bill that would raise the age of legally owning a gun to 21, ban the sale of assault weapons and extended magazines in Illinois.
"There is not a sane person who should sit here and say in our society we should have these," Dart said.
But a panel of gun rights advocates say individuals have the constitutional right to own them.
"I'm here to tell you the gun owners are tired of being blamed for every madman, every criminal and every other depraved act that 2.5 million gun owners didn't do," gun rights advocate Todd Vandermyde said.
Gun rights advocates warned lawmakers there is no negotiating on this bill.
"I'm telling you if House Bill 5855 or anything remotely like it passes we will see you in court," Vandermyde said.
Advocates say four Supreme Court decisions support their positions. But State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie) strongly disagrees after a heated exchange with the panel about how the 2nd Amendment is defined.
"There is not a single word about an individual's right to a gun for self-defense or recreation in the 2nd Amendment," Stoneback said.
Illinois House lawmakers hope to get the bill passed by January 10, one day before the new legislation session - but they will need help from the Illinois Senate, and that is no guarantee.
