Illinois Senate Moves Toward Total Gun Ban

On Wednesday, the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee, led by anti-gun, Senate President John Cullerton and backed by Governor Patrick Quinn, passed House Bills 1263 and 815. These measures, if passed would ban nearly all common firearms and magazines, and institute new shooting range restrictions.

The NRA-ILA has issued a statement regarding the Illinois Senate’s new draconian gun proposals and warned that the both bills are to be taken up during Thursday’s legislative session.

Despite the Second Amendment, according to the NRA-ILA, House Bill 815 would:

Prohibit anyone without a FOID card from using a commercial shooting range, which in many cases would make it impossible to introduce new shooters to the safe and responsible use of firearms.

Grant the State Police broad discretion to impose design, construction and operation standards that could shut down most commercial shooting ranges. –

Ban possession of magazines and other feeding devices that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.  A “grandfather clause” would require registration by owners of such devices and give the State Police discretion to impose and charge fees.  Registration would require “proof of ownership” that could be impossible for most people to provide, and even registered owners could not transfer magazines within Illinois, except to an heir or a licensed dealer.  Transfers of “grandfathered magazines” would have to be reported to the ISP.

Violations of this magazine ban would be a felony.  Failure to report theft or loss of a magazine would be a misdemeanor until the third violation, which would be a felony. House Bill 1263 would:

Ban, at a minimum, all detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles and pistols. Remington 7400 deer rifles, Ruger 10/22 squirrel guns, Glocks, 1911s, etc. This ban would include about 80% of handguns now sold in the U.S.

Possibly ban all semi-automatic rifles and even revolvers or single-shot pistols with the capacity to accept muzzle brakes or compensators. – Ban “assault weapon attachments,” so possession of a thumbhole stock, a pistol grip,or a fore-end (a “shroud” that “partially or completely encircles the barrel”) would be a crime even if you didn’t possess a firearm.

Ban all .50 BMG rifles.

Contains “grandfather” provisions that would require registration by owners of devices and give the State Police discretion to impose and charge fees. Registration would require “proof of ownership.”

Create felony penalties for violation of this ban on guns or attachments. – Create lost and Stolen penalties that would criminalize victims of gun theft.

The NRA-ILA is asking all Illinois Second Amendment supporters to take immediate action and call their state senators at (217) 782-2000 and urge them vote against House Bills 815 and 1263.