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Rep. Drury turns on his state Senator

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Illinois

* Rep. Scott Drury constituent e-mail…

Friends:

We write this email with deep regret. As you know, our office has been on the frontlines of the battle against gun violence. Working collaboratively with our municipalities, we have ensured that District 58 has more individual assault weapons bans in place than any other district in the state!

Our mission is not just to pass along good news. For too long, politicians have gotten away with claiming to be on our side of the battle, while also placating the Gun Lobby. We are concerned that Senator Julie Morrison may have joined the ranks of those politicians.

Background
On March 14, 2018 - as students across America walked out of schools and demanded better gun laws - our own Senator Morrison voted with the Gun Lobby to: (a) gut a bill that would have banned bump stocks; and (b) replace the bill with language that will allow the continued sale of the devices.

What Is A Bump Stock/Trigger Modification Device?
As we learned from the recent Las Vegas massacre, bump stocks and trigger modification devices drastically increase a semi-automatic weapon’s rate of fire to make it more like a machine gun. If you’ve never seen what these devices can do, watch this video. It shows a trigger modification device in action. Notably, while the modified gun in the video shoots more than 600 rounds per minute, that is less than a machine gun’s rate of fire.

The Real Bump Stock Ban
In February 2018, the House passed legislation that banned all devices designed to increase a gun’s rate of fire - i.e., bump stocks and trigger modification devices. I proudly co-sponsored the legislation and advocated for it on the House Floor.

The Gun Lobby’s Preferred Language
Prior to the House passing its ban, the NRA came up with its own definition of a bump stock/trigger modification device. Under the NRA definition only devices “intended to increase the rate of fire achievable with the firearm to that of a fully automatic firearm” would be banned. The problem is that bump stocks/trigger modification devices do not increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic weapon to that of a fully automatic firearm. Thus, the NRA definition bans nothing.

Senator Morrison Adopts the NRA’s Language
In early February 2018, Senator Morrison proposed her own version of the bump stock ban that inexplicably adopted the NRA’s language. Read it here. Then on March 14, 2018 - the day of the student walkouts - the Senate gutted the House bill and replaced it with Senator Morrison’s language. The sponsor of the Senate Bill even credited Senator Morrison for the amended language. The bill now returns to the House.

The Senate Adds a Poison Pill
In addition to adopting the NRA’s language, the Senate also added a poison pill to the House bump stock ban. Specifically, the Senate - seemingly at Senator Morrison’s request - added language from one of my bills in the House (HB4127) that would allow municipalities to enact assault weapons bans (Senator Morrison has a similar bill in the Senate). Unfortunately, the votes do not exist in the House to pass that legislation. Thus, adding this language to the bump stock ban has effectively killed the bill in its entirety.

Contact Senator Morrison To Express Your Disappointment
Until now, Senator Morrison has consistently helped us in our efforts to enact responsible gun laws. Let’s help get her back on track. Please contact Senator Morrison’s office and let her know that our community values the right to live life without fear of gun violence. You can email her by clicking here or call her at (847) xxx-xxxx.

As always, thank you for the privilege of allowing me to represent you.

–Scott

* Sen. Morrison…

“All three pieces of legislation that the Senate passed a few weeks ago represent a bipartisan effort to deal with the epidemic of gun violence in our state. I am in favor of the most restrictive definition of what constitutes a bump-stock and I have complete faith in Rep. Moylan to do what he feels is necessary with HB 1467.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:11 pm

Comments

Unlike Drury, Sen. Morrison is very highly regarded at the Capitol and respected for her thoughtfulness and integrity (and, in this case, her restraint.)

I know that Drury wears it as a badge of honor that everyone despises him, but when absolutely no one trusts, respects or likes you, the problem is you, not everyone else.

Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:27 pm
So confused as to what Drury’s long term goals are. Guy should have run for the 10th CD as a Republican. He would have easily won the primary thanks to his anti-Madigan thing and would have had a decent chance taking out the empty suit that is Schneider. At least a better chance than he did winning a Dem AG race.

What does he do a year from now?

Comment by Evanstonian Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:27 pm
What’s his motive? He’s about to be out of office and needs friends. Unless his plan is to see if he can take her out in the 2020 D primary. But this is a wee bit aggressive, even for him.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:32 pm
head. desk. have fun in the world trying to attract clients.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:35 pm
He addressed it to “friends”. They all came back undeliverable.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:35 pm
I see him as the next priminister of Freedonia.

Comment by Trapped in the ‘burbs Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:38 pm
This is the difference between wanting to pass legislation and wanting to get publicity. Drury is better at the latter than the former.

When trying to build coalitions to get things done in a democracy, the perfect is almost always the enemy of the good.

The meticulously landscaped grounds of many state legislatures are littered with the crumpled remains of perfectly drafted bills that couldn’t get enough votes to become laws.

They make for fine reading, but not much else.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:40 pm
Claiming that Julie Morrison is in cahoots with the NRA is as credible as claiming Jeanne Ives is Mike Madigan‘s favorite state representative.

Is it too late for Rauner to drop Sanguinetti and replace her with Drury?

Comment by Roman Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:52 pm
NRA HQ folded on bump stocks immediately after the Las Vegas hotel shooting, and put out a statement asking ATF to “review” the legal status of bump stock devices. It’s par for the course for NRA to sell out their own membership and play both sides of an issue. The only people who can’t figure this out are low I.Q. NRA types, they’re too busy beating their chests and waving the flag to figure out what’s going on without a press statement to explain to them how the world works.

For example, it took Chris Cox at NRA-ILA seventeen years to fire Todd Vandermyde in 2017, when a simple resume check and review of his backstabbing deals on Rep. Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill in 2013 would have showed anyone with a brain that Vandermyde was playing both sides. The myth of NRA, Inc. as some sort of almighty colossus is nonsense, they sell out their members all the time.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:55 pm
@Evanstonian - like that you cited the empty suit that is Congressman Schneider. Want to see a primary challenger for Brad in 2020 but someone that is actually great and that is not Drury.

Comment by Blue Dogs are Blind, Deaf & Dumb Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 4:59 pm
Good for Drury for calling Morrison out. In her district, it’s crazy that she would team with the NRA. Clearly, she’s lost touch. People often say they’re 100% pro-choice. Orgs like Moms Demand Action and GPAC should require the same commitment from legislators who want their support.

Comment by Disgruntled Laborer Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 6:16 pm
This comes from the same guy who blamed Morrison for his failed run at speaker.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 9, 18 @ 6:31 pm
What makes schneider an empty suit? Folks in his district seem to like him, he’s been everywhere.

Comment by LakeDem Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 1:06 pm