* I asked all the Democratic gubernatorial candidates and Gov. Rauner’s campaign this question the other day…
What specific legislation would you propose to lessen the risk of a mass shooting in Illinois?
Their deadline was noon today. The Rauner campaign did not respond. The answers in the order they were received:
* Tio Hardiman…
“As Governor, I would make sure that we enforce all of the Gun Laws on the books in Illinois to the highest level because having strict gun laws without enforcement is like turning your back on the law abiding citizens of Illinois. Additionally, I would work with members of the Illinois General Assembly and Members of Congress/Senate on Banning Assault Weapons period. This is necessary to help the state of Illinois remain safe from incidents like what just took place in Las Vegas.”
* Bob Daiber…
“The effort to stop mass shootings in Illinois begins with passing and signing into law SB1657 “The Gun Dealer Licensing Act.” This legislation gets to the root of the problem as to whom sells weapons and the process by which individuals can obtain rapid-fire devices. I support a ban on such weapons for further sale to the general public. To address the long-term issue of manufacturing assault weapons, we must enforce restrictive patents on the development of any such weapons so they may not be marketed beyond the initial intent. As a state, we must also address this issue by reinstating mental health services to serve citizens who have a diagnosis that may present a risk to society. “
* Chris Kennedy…
We have the ability to limit illegal, unlawful use of guns, without violating responsible gun owners’ second amendment rights. We should immediately take steps to:
* Pass the Illinois Gun Dealer Licensing Act, which would mandate state licensing for all Illinois firearms dealers who are currently only required to be licensed at the federal level. This would reduce a major source of illegal guns from entering our communities.
* Crack down on the gun train problem by putting the railroads on notice. Guns that are being shipped across the country sit in unprotected rail yards, making it possible for thieves to steal and resell illegal weapons throughout the state.
* Pass a Lethal Violence Order of Protection (LVOP) to empower immediate family members who are concerned about a loved one hurting themselves or others.
* Create a gun tracing program like they have in New York City so we can trace the ownership of all guns that were used in a crime and cooperate with other states that are creating similar programs so that our data collection and reporting techniques are compatible.
* Ban anyone on the terrorist watch list from receiving a FOID card in Illinois and call on President Trump to share the terrorist watch list with the state police immediately, or to explain why he refuses to do so.
* Pass an assault weapons ban in the state.
* Implement universal background checks to determine whether the prospective buyer has been convicted of a felony.
* Study the gun violence epidemic. If the federal government won’t reinstate research from the CDC to study this public health crisis, then we need to do it right here in Illinois, where we have sophisticated public universities like the University of Illinois-Chicago to take the lead.
* Sen. Daniel Biss…
“We are in desperate need of common sense measures to prevent gun violence and mass shootings, and we can’t wait for the federal government to take action. That’s why I’m co-sponsoring the Gun Dealers Licensing Act, and introducing a Senate companion to the newly-filed HB4107 to ban bump stocks, high capacity magazines, and assault weapons. These are all important steps we can take today to better protect our communities.
“But crucially, we also must expand access to mental health care, and de-stigmatize those with mental health issues. To do that we must fight for Medicare for All, and for a sustainable budget that fully funds our state’s social service providers.”
* Ald. Ameya Pawar…
As Governor, Ald. Pawar would:
-Sign SB 1675, the Gun Dealers Licensing Act which would:
1. Require background checks on all gun dealer employees
2. Require video surveillance on the outside of gun shops, and
3. Train employees to help identify straw purchasers.
-Propose a ban on the sale of bump stock.
-Propose a ban on the sale of automatic weapons.
-Propose a ban on the sale of high capacity magazines.
And as Ald. Pawar wrote in a 2013 Tribune Op-Ed (link here) he would propose a gun liability law to prevent straw purchases because if we can insure guns we can ensure we can save lives.
A gun liability law would include:
1. Tying a firearm owners identification card to proof of gun liability insurance.
2. Requiring gun sellers and dealers to verify proof of insurance prior to any gun transaction.
3. Requiring every purchased gun be listed on an insurance policy.
We also must attack the root of the problem and recognize that mass shootings and gun violence are a result of a lack of economic opportunity and ready access to mental health services. As Governor, Ald. Pawar would invest in communities by passing a New Deal era capital bill and invest in mental health services destroyed under Governor Rauner.
* JB Pritzker…
The mass shooting in Las Vegas was the worst in U.S. history and this is the third time in ten years we’ve said that. Enough is enough. Gun violence is a public health epidemic, destroying families and communities, and taking the lives of 675 people in Chicago last year alone. We can’t just send hopes and prayers, we have to take action.
There are several measures we can take to address gun violence. First, I support a ban on assault weapons, high capacity magazines, and bump stocks to make it harder for people to do so much harm, so quickly. Second, I believe we need to put in place universal background checks, pass a gun dealer licensing bill, and close the gun show loophole. Third, we need to work with neighboring states to stop guns from flowing across our borders. Finally, I support lethal violence protection orders so that families can step in to protect loved ones from harming themselves and others.
These are steps we can take to help keep our families and communities safe, but they are only part of the equation. Social service funding and mental health services in Illinois have been decimated by Bruce Rauner’s budget crisis. As governor, I will work to restore funding for these services and create economic opportunity across our state so that we can bring opportunity and hope back to every community in Illinois.
* Previous candidate questions…
* Question 1: Marijuana legalization
* Question 2: Where would they cut?
* Question 3: Municipal bankruptcy
* Question 4: Campaign theme
* Question 5: Cook County pop tax and state repeal
* Question 6: Geolocation Privacy Protection Act
* Question 7: Amazon HQ2
- John Rawlssss - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
“Finally, I support lethal violence protection orders so that families can step in to protect loved ones from harming themselves and others.” - Pritzker supports the state taking away guns without due process. It’s gross.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
Someone might want to tell Pewar that automatic weapons have been banned federally since 1986
- Chris Widger - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
===”without violating responsible gun owners’ second amendment rights”===
Get out of here with that baiting, Kennedy. Irresponsible gun owners also have Second Amendment rights; the Second Amendment, unfortunately, is not a perfect Venn diagram circle overlapping what you think responsibility is.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
===Irresponsible gun owners also have Second Amendment rights===
There are limits on every right. Try to hold a peaceful protest march without a permit. Try to lobby without registering. And those rights are far more explicit in the Constitution.
- Chris Widger - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:28 pm:
===There are limits on every right. Try to hold a peaceful protest march without a permit. Try to lobby without registering. And those rights are far more explicit in the Constitution.===
Completely agree. My issue is with framing; that is, that the Second Amendment is something only responsible people can avail themselves of, and that we can decide what conduct is responsible. To try to be more clear, my point is NOT that people can just buy whatever guns they want and that the Second Amendment allows unfettered gun ownership. It’s that characterizing the Second Amendment as something that protects just responsible gun owners commits the logical fallacy of begging the question, and I demand more from my leaders.
The First Amendment doesn’t stop because we don’t think Black Lives Matter should just shut up and go home, because that’s more responsible. The Second Amendment doesn’t stop because we wonder why a responsible person needs to own two guns.
- MG85 - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:31 pm:
==There are limits on every right==
Or try to vote without registering, possessing a government id, or some other ridiculous thing governments require.
If we can limit or restrict voting rights, surely lethal weapons can be limited as well.
- illini97 - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:33 pm:
The First Amendment doesn’t stop because we don’t think Black Lives Matter should just shut up and go home, because that’s more responsible. The Second Amendment doesn’t stop because we wonder why a responsible person needs to own two guns.
I’ve read this 4 times and can’t figure out what you’re saying. Are you saying BLM needs to be repsonsible and shut up, but the First Amendment prevents that?
Every Constitutionally protected right has some limitations. We the People decide where those limits are through our elected representatives.
- John Rawlssss - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
“Try to hold a peaceful protest march without a permit. Try to lobby without registering.” - all rights that need to be restored
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
Sorry John Rawlsss. For more than 200 years the Supreme Court has ruled that government’s have a right to place neutral (non-content based) restrictions on those rights. They ruled the same way about guns. We don’t live with anarchy - we live with laws.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
===Someone might want to tell Pewar that automatic weapons have been banned federally since 1986===
That’s not true. You can still buy a fully automatic weapon and there are more than 400,000 in private hands. You’ll have to fill out some extra paperwork and pay a pretty hefty fee, but you can still buy a machine gun if you really want one.
https://oig.justice.gov/reports/ATF/e0706/back.htm
I mean seriously, if we can’t “grab” these guns or make them inoperable for collectors, we’re not going to be able to pass any meaningful gun control.
Hardly what I would call a well regulated Militia.
https://oig.justice.gov/reports/ATF/e0706/back.htm
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
Rich, thank you for continuing to post gun conversations. This is an item that should continually be discussed every day until we get real reform.
- PJ - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
===We don’t live with anarchy - we live with laws===
Yep. And where does it stop? If the government can’t ban assault rifles, why can it ban rocket propelled grenades? Or .50 cal sniper rifles that can kill from half a mile away? If these rights are unlimited, why shouldn’t I be able to cruise down Lake Shore Drive in a tank?
- Jocko - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
==Pritzker supports the state taking away guns without due process==
Can we PLEASE have a sensible discussion about gun reform without immediately rushing to this canard?
- Mama - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
Ald. Pawar & Kennedy have the best plans.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
= If these rights are unlimited, why shouldn’t I be able to cruise down Lake Shore Drive in a tank? =
Driving is a privilege, not a right.
- zatoichi - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:44 pm:
How do any of those answers address the story that the Vegas shooter reserved a hotel over looking Lollapalooza and collected guns from all over the nation? Going to check every suit case?
- illini97 - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
“Driving is a privilege, not a right.”
So you don’t take issue with private ownership of a fully functional tank, only its’ use on public roads?
- RobinHOOOD - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
All the candidates there Rich…. Paterakis is a FFL dealer, would have an interesting opinion
- Todd - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:01 pm:
so sad when candidates for governor don;t even understand Illinois law.
1. there is no gun show loophole. Background checks are required on ALL sales there.
2. background checks are required on all private sales since 2013.
After that its just more of the same ban this ban that. Even the guy from Southern Illinois doesn’t get it says a lot about the democratic party these days.
And they wonder why Trump won.
- Kickapoo - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
August 27th at 6 min mark, Paterakis on firearms
- Kickapoo - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/audio/at-issue/
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:29 pm:
If you’re going to deny FOID cards to people for being on a watch list, that will require telling people the reason they were denied. The Feds may not want such information disclosed.
- Rod - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
The saddest part about all of this Todd is that these candidates had the time to have staff research their answers. The Democrat candidates for Governor have largely abandoned voters who believe the 2nd amendment is a critical right and support the District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago decisions by the Supreme Court and handed those votes over to anyone the Republicans nominate.
- Todd - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
The message to gun owners is there is no room for you in the democratic party. And they wonder why conservative tradesmen vote republican
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
“The message to gun owners is there is no room for you in the democratic party.”
I own multiple firearms.
I also don’t think that “gun grabbers” are the most biggest threat to my family or community.
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 12, 17 @ 3:39 pm:
Todd- “And they wonder why Trump won.”
Former NRA members who know the deals you and Brandon Phelps made with anti-gun police unions on the concealed carry bill wonder why Chris Cox at NRA-ILA still pays Vandermyde. I guess since he’s a 1099 contract employee, Cox can just say he has no idea what Vandermyde is doing in Illinois, which is the truth.
Watching for Vandermyde to sell out on an assault weapons ban, then blame it on “Chicago” politicians.