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Lost in the weapons registry coverage is the actual assault weapons ban

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Illinois

* Among all the talk about apparent mass non-compliance with the assault weapons owner registry, the points made by GPAC CEO Kathleen Sances have been pretty much lost in the coverage…

One year ago, the Protect Illinois Communities Act effectively and immediately stopped the sale of assault weapons in the state.

There was no sunset, no grace period. Just an immediate halt to the manufacturing and sale of assault weapons that have increased the number of mass shootings across the country; high-capacity magazines that fire multiple rounds in quick succession without taking the time to reload; and, switches that convert legal handguns into military-style assault weapons.

And here’s how you measure the success of that law on the heels of its one-year anniversary: Our analysis of data from the Gun Violence Archive shows 10% fewer mass shootings in Illinois between 2022 and 2023; gun dealers haven’t sold assault weapons in Illinois in the past 12 months and there isn’t any evidence of violations by dealers.

Gun dealers are complying with the ban, and that’s evidenced by their complaints about the loss of sales, collectively costing dealers millions of dollars, and saving an untold number of lives. In fact, when assault weapons or high-capacity magazines are used in shootings, 155% more people are shot and 47% more people are killed.

* And about that gun registry…

In their response to a Fifth Amendment challenge to the state’s gun ban and registry in the Southern District of Illinois federal court, attorneys for the state say the right against self-incrimination isn’t violated by the registry.

The state’s lawyers argue the registration is a “voluntary benefit that exempts owners of certain” firearms from “otherwise applicable criminal penalties.” They also argue the “government has no authority to impose” penalties on those that don’t register and the idea someone would be prosecuted for what they file is “not real.”

“[T]he fanciful chain of events they have dreamed up has no serious chance of coming to fruition,” the filing said.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 1:16 pm

Comments

Two thoughts:

First, the argument that “the total of those registering before and after the deadline of 35,224 is 1.46% of the state’s more than 2.4 million Firearm Owners ID card holders” is just a dumb argument.

I have a FOID Card. I do not own a weapon. I am sure there are others like. In addition, I bet there are FOID Card owners who do not own assault-style weapons that are no longer being sold. So if you want to argue properly, take me and my ilk and those others who do not possess assault-style weapons out of the denominator before pretending to know what you are talking about.

Second, Mr. DeVore (from the second link). What a card. Wouldn’t it be odd if in presenting his case, Mr. DeVore causes some former officers and military personnel to be required to register or surrender their weapons since he says these people are not deserving of exemption. What a tool he is.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 1:30 pm
===And here’s how you measure the success of that law on the heels of its one-year anniversary: Our analysis of data from the Gun Violence Archive shows 10% fewer mass shootings in Illinois between 2022 and 2023; gun dealers haven’t sold assault weapons in Illinois in the past 12 months and there isn’t any evidence of violations by dealers.===

10% Drop in mass shootings between 2022-2023 is great. That statistic has nothing to do with the assault weapons ban that was signed in January 0r 2023. Furthermore, GPAC does not delineate what weapon is used in “mass Shootings” to begin with. Lots of puffery on Kathleen Stances part.

And there wasn’t any evidence of violations from dealers because dealers were never the problem.

Comment by Nagidam Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 1:31 pm
=I bet there are FOID Card owners who do not own assault-style weapons that are no longer being sold.=

More than half would be my estimate. FOID and CCL carrier here. No AR’s or weapons with high capacity mags. Not one. Never felt the need.

=That statistic has nothing to do with the assault weapons ban that was signed in January 0r 2023.=

Proof? I’ll wait.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 1:52 pm
it’s amazing that poof they are no longer sold. every little bit helps. it will be interesting to see if gun stores stay in business. if they do, there goes that argument. I would urge those who have the guns to comply with the registry. while your local sherrif may not care, for example, what happens if it is stolen? you cannot replace locally. and report on your insurance and you did not have it registered as required by law. getting murky. just register it.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 2:04 pm
Is there correlation and causation bias? What the law did was end the legal sale of some firearms and did not require confiscation so what was owned is still out there. A small percentage were moved out of State, the majority still exist. Off the top of my head the weapons used by mass murderers were rarely bought recent to the crime. They possessed them awhile or committed a crime to get them.

One year of statistics does not prove a correlation. What is missing is a comparison of a similar State or States that did not enact such a ban. Only then can we make an educated assumption about the law.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 2:35 pm
@ former paratrooper just heard of a lawsuit re the shooting in Kentucky (think it was Kentucky). the shooter purchased an assault style weapon just 6 days before the shooting. lawsuit against gun shop because he appeared nervous and more.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 2:40 pm
It is almost like having guns harder to get makes shootings harder to commit.

I can think of plenty of school shooter stories where it turns out the shooter bought the gun(s) less than 6 months prior to the shooting.

Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 2:59 pm
Amalia, respectfully I did say rarely, leaving that some did. There is always an exception to most rules.

There should have been questions about that particular person’s demeanor.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 3:06 pm
Gun stores are selling things as fast as they can be produced. You can wait in line for an hour at Scheels in Springfield just to fill out forms, so nobody is going out of business unless they already wanted to. There are still plenty of guns to buy that are legal to own. Just because you can’t get a big magazine or a threaded barrel doesn’t make them less useful for every need (target, hunting, sport, defense, zombie apocalypse) so almost anyone’s “needs” are being met by current legal models. The good times are still rolling in the gun store.

Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 3:08 pm
I am probably missing something, but according to the chart they provided, mass shooting went from 646 in 2022 to 656 in 2023.

Comment by jaded Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 3:11 pm
@ JS Mill

=== Proof? I’ll wait.===

If a law is signed January 10, 2023 and the data being used is from 2022 to 2023, then that data and corresponding statistics have nothing to do with the law that was signed.

Sorry for keeping you waiting.

Comment by Nagidam Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 3:17 pm
===then that data and corresponding statistics have nothing to do with the law that was signed. ===

Huh? Did you click the link?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 3:20 pm
The “decrease” is deceiving. The other side could argue there was a slight increase in victims. Additionally, the definition of mass shooting does not take into account what type of firearm is used, only the number of victims. State mass shooting numbers based on Gun Violence Archive link provided: 2021: 86 incidents, 59 killed, 383 injured; 2022: 57 incidents, 50 killed and 254 injured; and 2023: 51 incidents, 51 killed and 221 injured. Looks like the biggest drop year to year occurred PRIOR to the weapons ban. Also for clarification, automatic “switches” are banned FEDERALLY. They are not even mentioned once in PICA. I’ve also heard the governor mention switches and take credit for the ban. Facts and accuracy should matter.

Comment by Seriously Wednesday, Jan 24, 24 @ 5:29 am