Some of the best times in my life have been spent in our great outdoors, many with a fishing rod or a shotgun in my hands. I will always respect and support our Second Amendment rights.
There is, however, a common-sense gun and community safety issue on which I hope we can all come together – outlawing the sale and use of “bump stocks.”
You have heard about “bump stocks” in the news quite a bit recently. A “bump stock” is basically a gun modification device that can be attached to a semi-automatic weapon to greatly increase the number of rounds the weapon can fire in a minute. The killer in last month’s horrific Las Vegas massacre had modified several of his weapons with “bump stock” devices so they would fire more rounds quickly, like a machine gun.
Let me make it clear that I believe that there is no use or necessity for “bump stocks” for hunting or other law abiding purpose. Most of my colleagues in the General Assembly agree, and so there have been several bills filed to ban “bump stocks” in Illinois, but as always, the devil is in the details.
During our first week of veto session, the only “bump stock” ban Speaker Madigan allowed House members to vote on was House Bill 4117, which would not only ban “bump stocks,” but would also criminalize many other, legitimate gun modifications as well as placing new restrictions on the sale of materials that have nothing to do with guns at all. This was a vast overreach, and was voted down on the House floor 48 – 54.
Much better options remain on the table to get the job done. I am a chief co-sponsor of House Bill 4120 which makes it illegal in Illinois to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a “bump stock” to accelerate the firing speed of a semi-automatic weapon. This bill targets the “bump stock” issue – period. And it is supported by the Illinois State Rifle Association.
Currently, House Bill 4120 remains in the House Rules Committee. My co-sponsors and I will push for the measure’s consideration in committee, and then on the House floor as soon as possible.
