Posted on 03/19/2003 8:29:29 AM PST by pabianice
State Senate bill takes aim at shotguns
Illinois firearm owners are up in arms over a new piece of gun-control legislation in the state Senate. Figuratively up in arms, mind you. At least for now.
The specific source of concern is Senate Bill 1195, which has passed out of committee and could come up for a vote this week. The bill would make it illegal for Illinoisans to own or take delivery of a long list of guns that includes "any firearm having a caliber of 50 or greater."
For those who aren't gunsmiths, that means while you would still be able to own a .410 shotgun or a 38-gauge shotgun - if you can find one - your trusty 10-gauge, 12-gauge, 20-gauge and even 28-gauge shotguns would all have to be turned over to police and destroyed.
The primary sponsor of the bill is Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago. The architect of the bill is Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. The concern about the bill may be well-founded.
"This is the centerpiece of what (Daley) wanted. This is a message to every hunter and every shotgun owner out there. You are in their sights, too," said Richard Pearson, president of the Illinois State Rifle Association.
Locally, Sen. George Shadid, D-Edwards, said he does not favor the bill.
Frankly, I can't see how any other senators could support such a ridiculous piece of legislation. As a rule I do not report much about gun-control legislation. But this bill's attempt to lump shotguns under the heading "semi-automatic assault weapon" is deceptive, to say the least. Conjure up an image of an "assault weapon." Do you see a shotgun in that picture?
I have heard fairly compelling arguments about the need to get Uzis off the streets. I will never hear a compelling argument about the need to get shotguns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens. Yet this bill will pass if it receives support from 30 of 59 Senate members.
"If I knew they only had 26 votes (in support) I wouldn't be worried," Pearson said. "But we don't know that yet. My gut reaction is if sportsmen get organized we can stop this thing. But if sportsmen aren't organized. . . "
The Senate bill would not create law in and of itself, of course. Similar legislation would have to pass through the House. And Gov. Rod Blagojevich would have to sign the bill - a signature that would instantly turn Blagojevich into a liar.
Remember, earlier this fall on the campaign trail Blagojevich signed a pledge stating, "I will protect the rights of sportsmen in Illinois to participate in these and other outdoor activities, by making the most effective use of the resources available . . . and by consistently defending their rights to carry out these activities."
Obviously, banning the shotguns most commonly used by hunters goes against that pledge.
To help make that point, the ISRA will hold a rally Thursday morning at 9 a.m. in Springfield. Meet at the Stratton Building Cafeteria, located across from the Illinois Capitol Building.
If you can't make the trip, call your senator and voice your opinion.
Jeff Lampe is Journal Star outdoors columnist. Write him at 1 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61643, call (309) 686-3212 or e-mail jlampe@pjstar.com
"...Well, here we've finally got the proof for all those sensible skeet shooters and bird hunters who want to distance themselves from all us gun nuts, safe and smug in their delusions that the unilateral victim disarmament crowd would never want to take away their guns. Mayor Daley's gang has introduced a bill in the Illinois legislature that would outlaw any and all firearm .50 caliber or larger. That let's them keep their .410 shotguns, but all the 10-gauge, 12-gauge, 16-gauge, 20-gauge and even 28-gauge guns would have to be turned into the police for destruction. Welcome to the Gulag, guys..."
Well, 50 cal and .50 cal are vastly different, my friends. Perhaps they simply want ship's guns outlawed? And I'm sure they'll put some "compromise" language allowing shot under .50 cal (shotguns), though possibly outlawing shotgun slugs/sabot rounds and black powder (which is pretty popular here in PA...)
The best part is notification. A gun owner here cannot move without notifying, by registered mail only, the police chief of his old town,. the police chief of his new town, and the state Dept. of Criminal Records.
This was also tried with convicted sex offenders. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it violated a sex offender's constitutional rights by requiring him to notify police if he moved. The same judges ruled that it's just fine to make law-abiding gun owners notify the police if they move.
DO NOT EVER say, "Oh, that's too drastic. They'd never do that!" They are coming after your firearms and they will never, ever stop.
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