* Press release…
State Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) is working in conjunction with the Illinois State Rifle Association on legislation to curtail the presence of so-called “bump-fire stocks” in Illinois. House Bill 4120 prevents the future sale and possession of the device used during the deadly Las Vegas shooting which left 59 people dead.
“I’m the first person to stand-up for our essential right as Americans to keep and bear arms, whether for personal protection, hunting or another sporting purpose,” said Wheeler. “However, the horrific events in Las Vegas showed quite clearly the devastation that can be caused by a rifle attachment like a bump-fire stock in the hands of an ill person. After speaking with firearm experts and the Illinois State Rifle Association, we all agreed that bump-fire stocks have no practical protection or sporting use and should be taken off the market.”
Under HB 4120, it will become illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer or possess a bump-fire stock in Illinois. Wheeler noted that since 1935 U.S. law has banned most automatic weapons, like the Tommy gun made famous by horrific mob violence in the early years of the 20th century. Since the only purpose of the bump-fire stock is to increase a rifles rate of fire to perform like an automatic firearm, it is an end-around way of skirting safety laws already in place for decades.
“I want to thank the State Rifle Association for working with me to craft this legislation to improve public safety while ensuring the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Illinoisans is not infringed,” said Wheeler.
In response to the events in Las Vegas, a slew of unreasonable bills have been filed in Illinois, such as HB 4107 and HB 4112. Wheeler said these bills are knee jerk reactions that broadly infringe on the rights of law-abiding Americans rather than addressing specific causes of violence or loopholes in the law that allow dangerous people and criminals to get their hands on firearms.
The bill is here. She has a few Democratic co-sponsors and one Republican (Grant Wehrli).
The “unreasonable” bills she referred to in the press release include a ban on assault weapons (HB4107) and this one…
Provides that it is a violation of the unlawful use of weapons statute to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in this State, a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle but does not convert the semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun. Provides that a person who violates this provision commits a Class 2 felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 3 years and not more than 7 years, unless the trigger crank, bump-fire device, part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory is attached to a semi-automatic rifle and possessed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, or on the person, while the rifle is loaded, in which case it shall be a Class X felony. Provides exemptions. Effective immediately.
Background on trigger cranks is here. Whew.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
It makes sense. The ISRA doesn’t want to fight a losing battle on bump stocks.
- Jname - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
Although I support this legislation, I fear it won’t stop Illinoisans from purchasing bump-fire stocks. Unless this becomes a national law, folks can purchase these devices over the border. Guns in Chicago coming from Indiana is just one example.
- Texas Red - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
The problem with the Moylan bill (HB4107), is that it bans a whole bunch of stuff besides bump-stocks…
“Large capacity ammunition feeding device” means:
a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or simildevice that has a capacity of, or that can be readily
restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds ammunition
Many of the most popular self defense pistols come standard with capacity over 10 rounds.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
The Close the Barn Door Act of 2017.
- Todd - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:22 pm:
Rich — the bill deals with bumb stock. the video you showed is a trigger crank, there is a differance
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
===the video you showed is a trigger crank, there is a differance ===
Exactly, that’s why it’s labeled as a trigger crank.
- Steve - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
Bumpstock would not have worked at the angle the Las Vegas shooter ‘purportedly’ fired shots from.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:34 pm:
===‘purportedly’===
What are you trying to say Steve?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:38 pm:
–purportedly–
Another one of those “false flag” scams like
Sandy Hook, Steve?
- Robert the 1st - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:43 pm:
You can bump fire any semi auto regardless of the stock. Not that I have anything against this law. Just looks like another “we have to do something” political move.
- A guy - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
==there is a differance ===
Need a definition on that third word.
- Chris Widger - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:57 pm:
==Need a definition on that third word.==
Clearly he’s referring to Jacques Derrida’s differance, the postmodern non-concept that criticizes the relationships between text and meanings. The NRA folks certainly can be accused of trying to deconstruct the argument, after all.
- California Guy - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:57 pm:
==Although I support this legislation, I fear it won’t stop Illinoisans from purchasing bump-fire stocks. Unless this becomes a national law, folks can purchase these devices over the border. Guns in Chicago coming from Indiana is just one example.==
Regulations on guns will always be weakened with the introduction of new technology - even if it’s a Federal law. California is a prime example of how nifty work-arounds have made regulations out of date almost the moment they pass. Bullet buttons, good looking magazines, stocks that are “arm braces” etc. It’s basically the same philosophy as the War on Drugs. Ban them and they’ll go away…..
- Robert the 1st - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
4th word I’m guessing?
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 5:18 pm:
not enough ISRA, not enough. and you know it.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 5:57 pm:
anon2- “The ISRA doesn’t want to fight a losing battle on bump stocks.” If you knew Richard Pearson’s track record for the past twenty years, you would know that ISRA has never “fought a battle” about anything.
All the fossils at ISRA know how to do is lose. If you want to pass a bump stock bill without ISRA & NRA squawking their fake opposition, just get the IL Chiefs of Police or any other police union to take a position against them, and Pearson will fall all over himself to sell out just like he did on Phelps’ concealed carry bill in 2013.
- Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 6:05 pm:
An exercise in futility. It will be every bit as effective as the law that prohibits the possession of heroin.
- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, Oct 24, 17 @ 6:54 pm:
None of these Bills address the core issue of why people commit these acts of violence. And none of these Bills will stop someone from committing these acts.
Incidentally, the trigger the I placed in my AR will now be banned? I placed it to increase the accuracy for competition. The side effect is it allows faster follow up shots, but the main purpose and design was to increase accuracy. So unless I remove it if the Bill passes I am a in violation and can face a Class 2 felony? Where is the logic in that?
- Mason born - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 5:32 am:
Totally fine with banning bump fire stocks & trigger cranks, & yes i know you can use a belt loop, they’re unsafe & spew rounds all over the dam place. That said the 2nd bill listed is overly broad in it’s description. If i replace a part that breaks in a rifle & the new part causes the rifle to fire a smidge faster am I in compliance? It’s horribly written.
- Putt - Wednesday, Oct 25, 17 @ 11:44 am:
This is a bill I can support, as a AR 15 owner bills 4112 and 4107 are not.