There were three of us present when Senate President Emil Jones said yesterday that the assault weapons ban wouldn’t fly. Kurt Erickson was one of them. Here’s his take.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s renewed push for a statewide ban on assault weapons may not be called for a vote this spring.
On Monday, one of his top allies in the General Assembly said the issue might be just too contentious to move forward before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn for the spring on April 7.
“I don’t think anything will happen with that,” said Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, who is co-chairman of the governor’s re-election effort. “It would be very difficult to pass that over here.”
That assessment comes just five weeks after Blagojevich made the assault weapons ban a cornerstone of his State of the State speech.
A federal ban on the weapons expired in September 2004 and Blagojevich wants Illinois lawmakers to approve legislation to ban the manufacture, possession and delivery of semiautomatic assault weapons, assault weapons attachments, large capacity ammunition feeding devices and the .50 caliber rifle.
Discuss
- NIEVA - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 8:15 am:
I honestly think sometimes that Rod is smarter than we give him credit for. When mayor Daily said Rod we must get rid of those evil assult weapons Rod said your right mister mayor, so he put forth in his master plan a ban. Then he called his buddy Emil and said this is an election year and I have made my point on guns.Would you please not call this issue for a vote,I don’t want to lose my southern il sheep.Could this be the case?
- The PFC - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 8:39 am:
I can’t think of a single reason why any person in Illinois, as a private citizen, would have the need for a .50 cal rifle. Well actually scratch that, I can think of one reason. They want to hunt wild animals…….that are hiding behind foot thick concrete walls. Damn wildlife.
- southernilrepub - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 8:46 am:
This ban would not take into effect just a military style .50 cal. It would include nearly every firearm that was ever concieved. It would make single action 12 & 20 ga. illegal. It would also make a .22 rifle that holds more than 10 rounds illegal. It would make nearly every kind of handgun illegal also.
- Gish - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 9:38 am:
The PFC-
Can you think of any need to have cars/motorcycles that tavel in excess of 100 mph? Can you think of any need to sell alcohol/tobacco etc.?
Some people enjoy target shooting which is the only legal activity for a .50 caliber rifle. Some people enjoy drag/track racing which is the only legal activity for vehicles travelling in excess of the speed limit.
Just because you don’t see any reason to own pne and just because I don’t have any interest doesn’t mean someone enjoys that legal activity.
- Driver - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 10:01 am:
PFC
One’s constitutional right to make wise *** comments is called “freedom of speech”. The right to own firearms is also a constitutional right, know as the “Second Ammendment” to the constitution.
- DOWNSTATE - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 10:11 am:
Let at the bottom line of this.In his speech he bragged about all the jobs he created which we know now is a lie.He talked about pre-school which we find about would be to expensive and and accomplish very little.The big construction bill would have to be done on borrowed money and not create as many jobs as he stated.Now his right hand man shoots him in the foot with a 50 caliber on his gun ban.This shows that this governor has no concept of reality.Any made up story or program that sounds good and might get a few votes he will get in front of a microphone and say.Oh I have an SKS 7.62 and a stainless Mini-14 and I enjoy and afternoon with my boys target praticing.
- ISU REP - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 10:14 am:
Those deer are pretty sneaky with their night vision and kevlar body armor….
- Logical - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 12:42 pm:
I want to see the governor, the mayor, and the legislators carry a .50 caliper assault weapon. I don’t think any of them are man enough to hump the monster across the room, especially the gov. As stated above, the problem with the “ban” would be all of the legal firearms (shotguns & small caliper rifles) that would fall within the definition of an assault weapon.
- ET - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 1:16 pm:
Downstate,
Teaching your boys how to use the SKS 7.62. Nice to see you’re showing them how to use the same gun that killed five hunters in Northern Wisconsin in 2004 and five police officers in Alabama and Indiana the same year. Oh that’s right it’s common hunting weapon despite the fact that even the head of the National Sports Shooting Foundation said after the Wisconsin killings that he doesn’t recognize the SKS 7.62 as “a legitimate hunting gun” Glad to know our downstate kids are learning how to use such a nice little weapon.
- DOWNSTATE - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 1:39 pm:
Et both of my boys are adults and have no problems I see you have the same mentality as the Gov.If I would of said a single shot 22 with a broken stock I am quite sure you would of found a problem.Sorry Mr. Anti-gun but you and your boy Blago ain’t going to get the job done this time.
- Paul Powell - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 2:12 pm:
What would be wrong with using some common sense here? Just to the West of us in Missouri, they have passed gun legislation that is much tougher in St. Louis than it is in the rural area. There are two types of gun owners, those who hunt/collect and those who rob/murder. A huge majority of the rob/murder people are in the large cities while the hunter/collectors are mainly in the rural area. Why do we feel the need for a one size fits all law? This is a diverse state so why not let Chicago have a gun law different from the rest of the state? I hear that it works in Missouri just fine. Chicago has some of the toughest gun laws on the books already but their crime rate with guns is not down hardly any. Why is that? Surely our legislators and governor on both sides of the aisle can hammer out a compromise that protects the rights of hunters/collectors and punishes the violators of existing laws.
- NIEVA - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 3:29 pm:
Paul, The reason that is not possible is that mayor daily runs Illinois.
- The PFC - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 3:32 pm:
I don’t think anyone needs a .50 cal rifle of any manner. What is the purpose of being able to own a car that goes over 100 MPH? To get from point A to point B. What is the point of a .50 Cal rifle? To shoot target practice? At what, a target a mile and a half away? Or a target on the other side of the building from you? I’m not a huge fan of gun control. Since shooting target practice is the only legal use for a .50 cal rifle I guess it can’t do anything else? I love my M-16, but I can understand why SOME gun control is needed. I can’t understand why a civilian needs a .50 cal.
- Todd - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 6:24 pm:
there is a reason it is called the Bill of Rights, not the Bill of Needs,
- southernilrepub - Tuesday, Feb 28, 06 @ 8:30 pm:
PFC, assuming that you are a current or former member of the military. Knowing that you swore an oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States. How do you feel about the current possibility of the IL State House passing a measure that would outlaw all shotguns except below a 28 gauge. Outlaw a black powder rifle typically a .50 cal. Outlaw most handguns in the state. Outlaw any rifle that has a capacity of over 10 rounds which would include my 50 year old .22 rimfire rifle.
Simply put; you are wrong on this bill! The .50 cal that most people would support a ban on would be the Barrett style or belt driven .50 calibers that are mounted on HUMVEES. Again assuming you are a member or former member of the military, you would have some simple knowledge of ballistics.
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 7:16 am:
7.62 equals 30.06 caliber hunting rifle it is also the same round as an M-60 machine gun loosely. Hey lets confuse people as much as possible so we can talk others into helping us take away someone’s personal rights. While the real problem the criminals keep killing people because they don’t care about your stupid laws or your bleeding hearts.
Full auto are all ready strictly regulated.
- Oxen - Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 7:37 am:
Teaching your boys how to use the SKS 7.62. Nice to see you’re showing them how to use the same gun that killed five hunters in Northern Wisconsin in 2004 and five police officers in Alabama and Indiana the same year. Oh that’s right it’s common hunting weapon despite the fact that even the head of the National Sports Shooting Foundation said after the Wisconsin killings that he doesn’t recognize the SKS 7.62 as “a legitimate hunting gun†Glad to know our downstate kids are learning how to use such a nice little weapon.
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This is the exact type of ignorant blather that I expect from a anti-gun Illinoisan. (If you are in fact from IL)
First off, could you explain to me how a gun killed those five hunters? Did it somehow develop a mind of its own and go crazy? IIRC a man named Chai Vang was the PERSON that murdered those hunters.
But you’re right an SKS isn’t a “common hunting weapon”, even if the round it shoots, 7.62 x 39, has enough power to drop most any game therefor can be use to hunt with as long as the hunter puts in a block so the rifle holds 5 rounds. The SKS has been in production since the late 1940’s, and yes it was designed to do one thing, kill people in battle.
I do know what I’m talking about when I speak of the ignorant anti-gun Illinoisan blather. I lived in IL, the land of F.O.I.D., up till I was 21. And yes I owned guns while I lived there, even an evil SKS, but I had to drive to INDIANA to shoot the things cause there were no ranges around me I could shoot at.
Living in Florida is an entirely different culture as far as guns go. People don’t freak out around them for one, and the states’ laws are actually in favor of law abiding gun ownership.
I even carry a concealed .45ACP every day (gasp!), I own not only an SKS and also a AK-47, AR-15 and a 9mm Glock 34 that holds 17 rounds in each magazine and have never thought of using any of my guns to hurt innocent people.
ET-
If someone broke in to your home intent on murdering you what would you rather have in your hand, a phone with a 911 operator on the other line or a .45?
- bookie - Thursday, Apr 20, 06 @ 5:16 pm:
I’ve lived in Illinois all my life. I have a Utah carry permit, and use it when my wife and I go on trips out west. I believe today this state is run on Daley’s wishes, wonder how he got the job? I’d be happy if Chicago broke away from Illinois and had there own state. Daley and Blago are both liers. Didn’t they take an oath to defend and protect the constitution of the U.S.,inluding the 2nd amendment. We all deserve a right to carry, I have much more faith to defend myself than I do in others. I haven’t seen in the news anyone robbing a store with a 50 cal. weapon either.
- BigE - Monday, Aug 28, 06 @ 5:40 am:
Banning guns is NEVER the answer. If a law-abiding citizen wants to own a 50 cal., then so be it. Criminals, oddly enough, have NEVER obeyed gun laws– and they NEVER will. The only people that pay attention to gun laws are the LAW-ABIDING, decent citizens. The exact type you would WANT to have in your corner should the SHTF. And don’t tell me it couldn’t happen– look at the L.A. riots or the mess in New Orleans. Even if ALL guns were banned, criminals would STILL have them. Cocaine has been “banned” in America, yet PLENTY of criminals still have easy access to it. Why would guns be any different? They would just smuggle them in the same way they do drugs. We can’t even stop PEOPLE from illegally entering the country– much less guns. Instead of useless laws for the already law-abiding population, what about taking care of the law breakers for a change. Send the criminals to jail, send the illegal aliens home, and take back America. Can you imagine what would happen if you or I tried to enter Russia illegally??? America needs to stand up for itself and put an end to this MINORITY rules nonsense.
- preston - Friday, Jan 26, 07 @ 4:47 pm:
WE need to find a way to advertis some of the facts about thier gun ban laws that they are trying to push. they sit an trick people by keeping them blind from the truth. one of thier advertisments they showed a guy walking into a store buuying a tec 9 then next scene he was at the shooting range blasting away full auto. you could never buy a gun fully auto from the store. you”d have to open it up an modify it wich is already illegal. That gun ban law made 90% of the guns illegal. best part is crime stayed the same.Instead of fearing guns people should embrace them like all of our anscestors did. If we all learned how to properly use a fire arm (talking about law abiding citizens like myself)
crime would drop. reason why you ask. simple criminals rapists thugs degenerates whatever will think twice before commiting a bad act aginst someone for the simple reason they problly have a gun an problly will shot them if they try to do any thing like raping them. we need to come together on this an advertise why guns good. does anyone know where our who to talk to about going on national television? Well since they blame guns for killing people i geuss i can blame my keyboard for all the typo”s in this .