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Rauner quickly pulls the trigger on gun bill veto

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Illinois

* Press release…

Rauner vetoes onerous gun store regulation

Governor Bruce Rauner today vetoed Senate Bill 1657 saying that the bill created onerous, duplicative bureaucracy that does little to improve public safety. He noted that Illinois gun dealers are already licensed by the federal government and that 2,700 small businesses in the state would be jeopardized by the unnecessary new layer of state regulations.

As part of his veto message, Rauner was clear that the state is in desperate need of thoughtful, bipartisan public safety solutions to the larger more pervasive problems of crime prevention, school safety and mental health.

“The core issue is not which guns to legally ban or regulate,” he said. “We have ample proof that such narrowly focused legislative responses make for good political cover, but they do little to stop the illegal flow of guns into Illinois or prevent people from committing thousands of crimes in our state each year with illegal guns.”

The Governor said that to focus solely on guns exaggerates the divide in society over constitutional rights, when there is actually substantial common ground on which to build comprehensive solutions. He cited two common universal concerns: guns in the hands of criminals; and guns in the hands of the mentally ill.

“These are starting points that ought to bring us together for serious conversations about how to secure our schools, combat crime, and make everyone in Illinois safer,” Rauner said.

Since the tragedy in Parkland last month, Rauner insisted that bipartisan collaboration is the best hope of finding common sense solutions to gun violence.

He acted on that hope this afternoon by calling on the leaders of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate to each appoint four members of their caucuses to a Legislative Public Safety Group. The Group would work with the administration to develop legislative proposals to support the following initiatives already underway in various agencies and units of the administration:

School Safety – The Illinois Terrorism Task Force has convened a working group of officials from schools, police and fire agencies and they are developing strategies to protect against mass shootings. The Public Safety Group ought to be ready to suggest legislative actions to implement their recommendations.

Mental Health – The Illinois Terrorism Task Force is also working to learn more about the complex intersection of mental health and gun violence, so parents, teachers, professionals and others can more effectively assess, detect, and report threats. The Public Safety Group will be valuable in ensuring the mental health community is fully engaged and legislation is sensitive to the complexities of dealing with diagnosis and treatment.

Interstate Crime Prevention Network – A wide ranging law enforcement partnership with surrounding states is being explored to clamp down on illegal cross border trafficking and straw purchases, provide enhanced data collection and sharing, and establish protocols for threat detection, surveillance, and criminal apprehension. The Group should be in position to evaluate the arrangements as necessary.

Repeat Gun Offenders – We must closely examine sentencing and bonding practices that allow repeat offenders to be released rather than incarcerated. Legislative remedies ought to be part of the Public Safety Group’s effort.

Concentrated Crime Force Deployments – The state needs to expand its program of deploying law enforcement resources in high crime areas so that they can mobilize for all-out attacks on the crime industry. The Public Safety Group ought to be ready to endorse funding requirements for a larger force of state police officers.

Economic Revitalization – The state’s most violent neighborhoods are also commercial deserts where the only discernible “business” is crime. As expanded force deployments push crime out of these neighborhoods, the state can direct focused business development resources on legitimate enterprise and job creation. The Group can accelerate the adoption of incentives to attract needed economic development programs.

“We have to work together to develop public safety solutions that truly make a difference,” Rauner said.

“Safety is not a partisan issue. It is an obligation, and we owe it to our citizens to come together to ensure their protection. I urge our legislators to join with me so we can get to work on this critical mission.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:13 pm

Comments

This lends credence to Ives’ claim about how close this race is.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:16 pm
well reasoned message. I guess Jeanne will have to run on her support for Bump Stocks instead. (Super Popular).

Comment by Iggy Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:18 pm
Good. Responsible approach. Seldom found in politics.

Comment by Logic not emotion Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:19 pm
So instead of taking immediate action, Rauner is proposing a 6 point plan that amounts to:
Wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Action that he undermined to create a budget crisis

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:22 pm
Is there any reason why the Guv would do this - at this time - other than he is concerned about his primary?

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:22 pm
==Is there any reason why the Guv would do this - at this time - other than he is concerned about his primary?==

If you know you are going to veto the bill, why not do it at a time when you’ll get credit with conservative voters?

Comment by truth Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:25 pm
–Good. Responsible approach. Seldom found in politics.–

Harrumph, harrumph.

And timed for this coming Tuesday.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:25 pm
“This lends credence to Ives’ claim about how close this race is.”

And that lends credence to the notion that Rauner repeatedly invoked the magic word “comprehensive” to reserve the right to sign an even more “onerous” gun control bill after the primary.

Bottom line: Better than even odds that 2A voters eventually get the HB40 treatment.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:26 pm
I think Rauner is ahead about 20 points give or take. He wasn’t going to hurt himself with conservative voters by siding with the Dems on guns right before an election.

Comment by Anonin Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Yep. He’s hearing footsteps.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Rauner, you froze the money for CeaseFire,and violent crimes went up. You know what you have to do.

Comment by Radio Flyer Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:29 pm
===well reasoned message.===

Tell that to suburban moms after March 20th…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:29 pm
“I urge our legislators to join with me so we can get to work on this critical mission.”

Translation: Pass this bill again when you return in April and I’ll sign it in May.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:34 pm
“Harrumph, harrumph” “I didn’t get a harrumph out of that guy.” Governor Lepetomane
Sorry. Henry Francis has me on a Blazing Saddles kick.

Comment by Radio Flyer Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:34 pm
–And that lends credence to the notion that Rauner repeatedly invoked the magic word “comprehensive” to reserve the right to sign an even more “onerous” gun control bill after the primary.–

That makes a lot of sense, the mad dash to middle. Cynical and dishonest, but I doubt that’s a concern for Rauner.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:36 pm
I actually agree with the Gov’s message.

The problem is the committees. Give them a hard deadline and have them meet every day or every other day until they present both their report and draft legislation to implement it.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:39 pm
So instead of doing something, he wants to form 6 new Blue Ribbon panels. Got it.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:40 pm
Somehow I don’t think Don Harmon or other legislators will give Rauner a second chance. Why on earth would they?

No, if they’re smart, they’ll override his veto and make him own it. No way should they let him off the hook.

“Bruce Rauner vetoed common-sense gun legislation.” Repeat as necessary, all the way to November.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:42 pm
Rauner won’t get another bill in the near term.

Why would Dems moderate Rauner and help him?

Rauner, like all governors, owns his vetoes. This is one to help these last 6 days, with the fear it could haunt days, weeks, and months leading up to November(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:46 pm
God help him if a Parkland happens here.
This is a depraved act.

Comment by Northsider (the original) Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:49 pm
You’re such a coward, Rauner. Instead of doing something that will help keep your constituents and their children safe, you took the route of “no action that will tick off the conservative gun owners and NRA”. We will remember. You will not be governor for long.

Comment by Angry Mom Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:53 pm
This was bipartisan legislation.

I look forward to a vote on the veto override.

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:53 pm
For the first time in about 4 years, I agree with a Rauner veto. I simply don’t understand why we need to spend money to set up another bureaucracy to license something that is already strictly licensed. Much as pro-gunners hate ATF, they are one of the few federal agencies that take their jobs seriously and go after the bad dealers.

Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:59 pm
This sounds like someone’s idea of a plan…

“…run down the clock until there’s a crisis and then pull out of negotiations and run their own agenda, which is to do nothing and protect the status quo.” Diana Rauner email, 3:50:55 AM on August 3, 2017

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:01 pm
“Responsible approach” Are you kidding me? Shaking your head, saying its so sad, focusing the attention on mental illness and guns purchased illegally when neither is the main cause of gun deaths, that’s responsible?

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:15 pm
“A well regulated militia….”

Comment by Mike Cirrincione Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:20 pm
So someone needs to do two mailers. Collars get “Rauner vetoed gun dealer licensing!” And everybody else gets “Rauner supports comprehensive gun control!”

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:54 pm
How about enforcing the laws we already have on the books, like the one word cites often, instead of adding new ones that are duplicative of Federal law? What a novel concept.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:55 pm
“I simply don’t understand why…” I’m not being snarky or anything with this reply, I say this with the upmost respect to everyone.

What I hear is you saying that we have a mechanism in place, work with that. I say, “Don’t let the perfect be an obstacle to the possible.” I agree, this isn’t a perfect bill. Heck, it may not even be that good and will need to be changed or replaced later, but it is *something*. All we’ve had for the past however long have been people screaming at each other and not giving an each either direction, and look where it’s gotten us? Nowhere. Nothing has been accomplished. Nothing has improved. Here we still are, still deadlocked and still screaming at each other. People are still getting killed at a frightening rate. So that’s “why.” It’s *something*.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:56 pm
@Arthur

Hear here!

Non gun owners Right to be safe supercedes anyone’s right to own a gun. It’s in the Constitution!

Comment by Mike Cirrincione Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:08 pm
A parkland did happen here twice. NEIU snd Laurie Dann in the 1980s

Comment by Lex Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 5:00 pm
You need a license to cut HAIR in this state for crissakes.

Comment by Galena Guy Wednesday, Mar 14, 18 @ 9:53 am