Illinois governor signs ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into legislation a invoice banning the sale and distribution of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines on Tuesday night. The ban takes impact instantly.

The Home voted 68-41 to approve the Shield Illinois Communities Act final week, and the invoice handed the Illinois Senate by a 34-20  margin on Monday earlier than heading to Pritzker’s desk.

“For the previous 4 years, my administration and my colleagues within the State Capitol have been battling the highly effective forces of the NRA to enshrine the strongest and best gun violence laws that we presumably can,” stated Pritzker in an announcement. 

The invoice had been debated for years, however discovered renewed help following the July 4 Highland Park parade bloodbath final 12 months, which left seven individuals lifeless and dozens extra wounded. The 21-year-old suspect used a legally-purchased semiautomatic weapon, prosecutors stated.  

Beneath the brand new laws, in accordance with CBS Chicago, lengthy weapons will probably be restricted to 10 rounds per journal, and handguns can not have greater than 15 rounds. It additionally bans “switches” — gadgets which convert authorized handguns into assault weapons — and moreover extends the power of courts to forestall “harmful people” from proudly owning a gun by firearm restraining orders, the governor’s workplace stated.  

Beneath the brand new legislation, those that already personal weapons on the banned checklist can hold them, however have to register them with Illinois State Police inside 300 days. 

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who herself survived a mass taking pictures in 2011, additionally expressed help for the laws, saying that she applauded legislators within the state “for having the braveness to behave to take away these weapons of conflict from our streets.”

Rep. Invoice Foster of Illinois tweeted out his help for the brand new legislation as properly, writing, “Proud Illinois is setting an instance as soon as once more.”

Pritzker has signed different notable items of gun management laws throughout his tenure as governor, together with a legislation final 12 months that banned “ghost weapons” — unregistered and untraceable do-it-yourself weapons — making Illinois the primary Midwestern state to take action. In 2021, he signed a legislation increasing background checks on gun gross sales statewide.