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Williamson County will hold a gun rights referendum, but not the one favored by the governor

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Illinois

A Williamson County commissioner says the push for a gun control advisory question on November’s ballot has nothing to do with letting the voters speak and everything to do with heavy-handed Springfield politics.

Commissioner Ron Ellis said when the Williamson County Board first started talking in June about letting the voters decide if the board should oppose specific gun control bills that were being debated in Springfield, he was all for it. In fact, the three-person board voted unanimously to put the question on the ballot, they just had to finalize the language. […]

Ellis said that board meeting put the political machine in top gear, and the pressure was on him particularly. He said he got a call from Joe Hackler, the Southern Illinois director for Citizens for Rauner Inc., about his support of the measure.

“I was literally told that if I didn’t put this on the ballot that there would be repercussions,” Ellis said. He said he later heard from a local Republican official that if he wasn’t careful, it was possible there could be a smear campaign launched against him for standing up to Springfield, making his political life very difficult in the future.”

* Well, here’s an update…

Williamson County’s controversial advisory question opposing gun-control legislation died during Friday’s special meeting after commissioner Jim Marlo did not get a second for his motion to put the question on the ballot. […]

Friday’s meeting was well-attended, with the majority of the gallery filled with people wishing to speak on whether or not they thought the question should go on the ballot. The majority spoke in favor, saying they wanted the voters’ voices to be heard in Springfield, despite the advisory question being a nonbinding measure. […]

Bradley Marks addressed Ellis directly, accusing him of standing against voter turnout. He said the advisory question represents a hot-button issue that would draw out not just conservative voters, but also liberal voters as well.

“If we have to use a gimmick to turn people out to the polls, that’s sad,” Ellis replied.

In the end, however, the board voted unanimously to put their original question on the ballot…

After the question failed to advance to a vote, the commissioners voted instead to take up the original referendum opposing five specific pieces of gun legislation that were under consideration at the state level, some of which deal with wait periods for purchasing certain weapons and others banning possession of firearm accessories like bump stocks. That passed unanimously.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 11:02 am

Comments

Opposing banning bump stocks? Why in the world would anyone be opposed to banning those?

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 11:20 am
Truly wacky stuff.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 11:23 am
Williamson County has its own history of gun violence. If you haven’t read “Bloody Williamson” it’s a darn good history of the area. My immigrant family moved to Chicago in part to escape the Williamson violence.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 11:26 am
I guess they weren’t intimidated by Rauner’s peeps. He’s lost a lot of mojo among some Republican office holders.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 11:27 am
@AJack - excellent point. Just yesterday I started rereading the Paul Angle book. Williamson County does indeed have an interesting and colorful history.

Comment by illini Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 11:54 am
I guess you could say Ron Ellis was sticking to his guns.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 12:31 pm
No self respecting gun enthusiast uses or wants a “bump stock”. Regardless of whether you are a hunter or target shooter the item is garbage.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Williamson County, once again, totally owns the libs. Yay them

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Aug 20, 18 @ 1:06 pm