Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

ISRA, Drury both try to claim Raoul inserted “poison pill” into gun bill

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

A measure that banned the controversial bump stocks when it passed the Illinois House could be “poisoned” in the Illinois Senate with an amendment proposed by Democrat Sen. Kwame Raoul of Chicago. The Illinois State Rifle Association calls Raoul’s change a “poison pill.”

Raoul’s Senate Amendment 1 would roll back municipal preemption that passed the Illinois legislature in 2013 as a vital part of the concealed carry agreement. “Specifically it repeals the preemption on long guns and allows municipalities to ban any long guns they see fit,” the ISRA website says.

“Instead of having a uniform state law, where everyone knows the rules, Illinois will have a patchwork of inconsistent local gun laws - with good people unknowingly becoming criminals as they travel the state,” ISRA says.

Raoul’s change is deliberately divisive when there is broad, bi-partisan agreement on bump stocks - especially notable since Raoul is running in the March 20th primary to be the Democrat Party’s nominee for attorney general.

* Rep. Scott Drury…

Earlier today, State Representative Scott Drury (D-Highwood) blasted State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) for gutting Illinois’ proposed bump stock ban: “As students around the country were walking out of schools to honor the slain students in Parkland, Florida and advocate for more responsible gun laws, Raoul was slaughtering Illinois’ proposed bump stock ban in order to appease the Illinois State Rifle Association,” said Drury. “This continues Raoul’s horrendous record on assault weapons.”

At issue is the bump stock ban that has been working its way through the Illinois General Assembly. The Illinois House recently passed a bill that would have banned bump stocks and trigger cranks – devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at a much greater pace.

Raoul sponsored the bill in the Senate. However, before presenting the bill, Raoul admittedly cut a deal with the Illinois State Rifle Association, the effect of which was to gut the ban. The amended bill only prohibits devices that are intended to increase the rate of a gun’s fire to that of a “fully automatic firearm.” “The glaring problem with the Raoul-gun lobby amendment is that bump stocks can be manufactured to allow guns to fire hundreds of rounds per minute, yet still not be considered fully automatic,” Drury said. “This bait and switch is why people hate politicians”.

Drury also took issue with Raoul’s insertion of a poison pill into his amended bill. In 2013, Raoul began his partnership with the NRA, teaming with it to prohibit towns from passing assault weapons bans. Before that misguided legislation went into effect, Drury successfully raced to get numerous towns in his district to pass assault weapons bans.

“While Raoul’s amended bill removes the prohibition on assault weapons bans, it makes the bill virtually impossible to pass in the House”, said Drury. According to Drury, the requisite number of votes do not exist in the House, and Raoul knows that. “Raoul should be ashamed of himself,” Drury stated. “He talks a good game about responsible gun laws and then makes sure those laws can’t pass. When it comes to protecting our children from deadly assault weapons, Raoul has no credibility.”

Drury said that as one of the primary leaders in the General Assembly for responsible gun laws, he has been contacted by numerous advocates upset with what the advocates call Raoul’s betrayal. According to Drury, Raoul is essentially acting like former President George W. Bush – declaring “Mission Accomplished” when, in fact, virtually nothing has been accomplished.

The bill is here.

* From Sen. Raoul’s campaign in reaction to Drury’s claims…

This week Sen. Raoul passed a bipartisan comprehensive proposal to help make our communities safer which was supported by law enforcement and gun violence prevention advocates. Rep. Drury’s desperate mischaracterization gets to the heart of why he’s been ineffective during his time in Springfield.

The language regarding bump stocks came from Senator Morrison’s legislation. The Rifle Association language he’s referring to came from the Illinois State Police.

Wednesday can’t come soon enough.

…Adding… From Rep. Drury…

Rich:

As a follow-up to our press release, during debate, Senator Raoul specifically stated:

“Mr. President, I should note that the definition of bump stock and trigger crank in this bill has been amended to take in recommendations from the Illinois State Rifle Association.”

Sen. Raoul made no mention of the Illinois State Police.

Scott R. Drury

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:35 pm

Comments

When local gov agrees with conservatives, they are all for local control. When it sides against them, then they say, “oh no, we have to have one standardized, one-size-fits-all rule. It’s better and more efficient.”

Comment by Perrid Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:48 pm
So was Sen. Rauol for statewide pre-emption before he was against it?

Comment by anon2 Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:55 pm
–“Instead of having a uniform state law, where everyone knows the rules, Illinois will have a patchwork of inconsistent local gun laws - with good people unknowingly becoming criminals as they travel the state,” ISRA says.–

Yeah. Who the heck travels without their AR-15? How can you be safe with just your concealed handgun?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:58 pm
===Scott R. Drury===

Here’s a QOTD: What does the R stand for?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:59 pm
What specific carcinogens does Raoul’s poison pill contain?

Comment by City Zen Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Scott Drury, definitely not grandstanding for Tuesday. Time’s running out and Scott’s still without a clock.

Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:22 pm
–Anon–My guess is Drury knows it’s time for Raoul to stop pretending he is a true advocate for responsible gun laws.

Comment by szahn Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:32 pm
drury is going no where. but Raoul is the inheritor of the Obama seat (as we are reminded in every commercial) so playing both sides of an issue is something that seems to go with that position.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:34 pm
Almost everyone is OK with banning bump stocks, but trying to remove state preemption on gun control will just rile up the NRA. That was a hot topic in their April publication. And I’ve gotten a call a day for the last three days over Illinois gun bills.

If they want to get the bump stock ban passed, they need to defeat / remove Raoul’s amendment.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:49 pm
–Here’s a QOTD: What does the R stand for?–

Reform, of course.

Every Illinois politician is a reformer.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Drury is so whiny. It’s really unbecoming.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:40 pm
How does this amendment remove state preemption on gun control?

Comment by Mama Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:42 pm
Drury has a point, “fully automatic weapon” is not defined in the criminal code and the qualification that a rifle with a bump stock is not a machine gun, makes the bump stock “ban” unenforceable.

Too bad the legal nuance won’t make a good TV ad, and I foresee Rauol running ads that he’s the father of the bump stock ban in Illinois.

Comment by Swift Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:45 pm
If municipalities can ban any long gun, then there is a problem. Any person passing through or stopping in the town could break the he law. Even if the weapon is properly cased and in a vehicle as per state law.

I’m not voting for Raoul anyway. Can’t tell if this charge is true.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:57 pm
== How does this amendment remove state preemption on gun control? ==

From Rich’s post:

Raoul’s Senate Amendment 1 would roll back municipal preemption that passed the Illinois legislature in 2013 as a vital part of the concealed carry agreement. “Specifically it repeals the preemption on long guns and allows municipalities to ban any long guns they see fit,” the ISRA website says.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 5:06 pm