The mass taking pictures that drove a nationwide information cycle up to now week was the one at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary faculty the place 19 college students and two academics died by the hands of an 18-year-old gunman. However that wasn’t the one mass taking pictures.
Based on the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit and “non-advocacy” group that makes an attempt to trace such incidents in near-real time, there have been 15 mass shootings over the Memorial Day weekend. The group defines mass shootings as those who go away at the very least 4 folks, not together with the shooter, injured or lifeless.
Within the first half of 2022, the group tallied 231 mass shootings throughout the nation.
However does it must be this manner?
WGLT posed that query — and others — to candidates working for the state legislature within the 87th, 91st and a hundred and fifth Home Districts. These districts all embody components of McLean County.
Solely two candidates declined to reply: Regular City Council member Scott Preston, who’s working as a Republican for the 91st seat, and Tazewell County Treasurer Mary Burress, a Republican vying for the seat within the 87th district.
Burress initially expressed a willingness to interview, however did not comply with up with WGLT to substantiate a date or time that she can be accessible for questions. Preston, contacted a number of occasions through telephone, his Regular City Council e-mail and his marketing campaign e-mail, declined to reply in any approach to WGLT.
The candidates who did select to reply had been posed the next set of questions, or a model of those questions whereas interviewing:
- What new insurance policies ought to lawmakers think about passing to cut back the probability of future mass shootings?
- Ought to the state put restrictions on the sale of assault-style rifles, comparable to AR-15s? In that case, what?
- Most mass shooters aren’t formally recognized with a psychological sickness once they commit the crimes. Ought to there be psychological well being assessments to be allowed to purchase a gun?
- Ought to there be periodic coaching necessities to legally personal weapons?
- Illinois has only a few legal guidelines requiring weapons to be locked up. Do you assist extra authorized necessities for gun homeowners associated to protected storage?
- Illinois has no legislation proscribing giant capability magazines. Ought to it?
This is what we discovered.
87th Home District — consists of parts of Tazewell, McLean, Logan, Sangamon, Macon, and DeWitt counties
Mary Burress — Republican
Declined to interview.
Dr. Invoice Hauter — Republican
- Tazewell County Board member, District 2
- Scientific Assistant Professor Emergency Medication and Assistant Scientific Professor of Surgical procedure (Anesthesia) at College of Illinois Faculty of Medication, Peoria
- Lives in Morton
On Illinois gun legal guidelines: “Illinois has obstructionist legal guidelines to maintain good folks from getting weapons. Illinois has un-Constitutional legal guidelines — you can begin with the Firearm Proprietor Identification Card. It is pointless. It is a manner that they management us. How do they management us? They use the FOID to manage, delay and hinder law-abiding residents from proudly owning a gun. There must be extra weapons within the palms of excellent folks.”
Extra background from WGLT: Whereas Illinois has traditionally had a prolonged ready time to obtain a FOID card resulting from demand, Illinois State Police director Brendan Kelley not too long ago said in a information launch that the company is “now capable of course of all new functions in a state-approved time-frame,” or about three weeks.
The FOID card is a byproduct of a 1968 public security act and was created as a method of assessing who can legally personal a firearm and/or ammunition. Charges collected within the FOID software course of embody $10 firstly and a $10 renewal payment that funds the State Police Firearm Providers Fund and the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund.
On whether or not there needs to be a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody can personal or buy a firearm: “I might not be for a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody buys a gun. I do not agree with that. I do agree with figuring out these youthful children, normally it is a youthful male, who has pink flags throughout.
I simply suppose it is a misdirection to have a look at the precise instrument that he makes use of to do that horrible, horrible crime. Everyone desires to concentrate on the instrument and never the psychosis or the psychological instability … It is only a misdirection, in my thoughts. It is so superficial to me to only go to the gun, or go to the knife, or go to the automotive, or no matter they might use to do it. It is at all times so political. To me, it is extra of a difficulty with a deep religious darkness in our nation than it’s about no matter instrument they use to decide to their heinous crimes.”
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: “My sons and I prefer to go to Kam (Capturing Sports activities) in Morton and shoot our weapons. We lease a pair and take a look at them out. That is one thing we take pleasure in collectively as a interest. Individuals low cost that, like ‘Oh, you do not want an AR’ or one thing like that. There is no such thing as a provision that ought to hamper your skill to try this.”
91st Home District – consists of a part of Bloomington-Regular together with areas north of Interstate 74 to the west, together with Carlock, Goodfield, Washington and East Peoria
Scott Preston — Republican
No response.
Sharon Chung — Democrat
- McLean County Board member, District 7
- Mom of two kids, musician and educator
- Lives in Bloomington
On Illinois gun legal guidelines: “I do really feel like now we have legal guidelines right here in Illinois, however the majority of weapons are coming right here from different states. It is type of nearly determining what we will do about that half. I believe what may be very clear is that this can be a federal difficulty: When it comes to the nationwide stage, gun legal guidelines are form of completed on a state-by-state foundation. As a result of a variety of these weapons are coming into Illinois from different states the place they are not as regulated, I am questioning if one thing will be completed extra at a federal stage.”
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: “That is one thing that undoubtedly must be mentioned and checked out. If I used to be elected to the statehouse, I might check out language and laws about that.”
On whether or not there needs to be a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody can personal or buy a firearm: “I undoubtedly suppose it is one thing that may be thought of. Psychological well being is a kind of issues that individuals like to make use of to say, ‘It isn’t weapons, it is psychological well being,’ after which a variety of the time, the individuals who say that aren’t really all in favour of funding psychological well being. When issues have been funded… not fairly [adequately] when it comes to psychological well being, perhaps issues like this do occur.”
Karla Bailey-Smith — Democrat
- Painter, small enterprise proprietor at Creative Solutions
- Mom of 1, concerned Unitarian Universalist church member
- Lives in Bloomington
On Illinois gun legal guidelines: “Illinois doesn’t require registration for firearms — that may be useful as a result of then we may observe them and permit accountable gun homeowners to authentically declare that accountability.”
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: “Illinois at present doesn’t have any legal guidelines proscribing journal capability. I’ve really talked to individuals who say that taking pictures an AR-15 is absolutely enjoyable. Effectively, I’ve by no means shot one, so would not know personally, however in case you are taking pictures one in a protected location, perhaps what we do is that we solely permit these weapons to be at a protected taking pictures location — they usually keep at that location. Possibly for individuals who take pleasure in taking pictures a army fashion weapon for enjoyable, then that stays at that location — it would not go house. You’ll be able to’t have one. You’ll be able to’t have one at your house. I might assist a ban on particular person, home-ownership of a high-powered, repeating weapon.”
On requiring periodic coaching for gun homeowners: “For any particular person, gun possession (entails) a critical weapon that can be utilized to kill anyone. Subsequently, you must must endure a certain quantity of coaching, to have the ability to deal with that weapon safely, to know the best way to load and unload it, to know the best way to clear it. We nonetheless, sadly, have unintentional shootings as a result of folks have weapons of their houses they usually’re simply cleansing them or they’re type of messing round with them they usually unintentionally shoot anyone, normally a member of the family. That is fully preventable — if folks have acceptable coaching.”
Jim Fisher — Republican
- Retired farmer, veteran
- Former Unit 5 faculty board member
- Lives in Hudson
On Illinois gun legal guidelines: “I consider the FOID is an infringement of the Second Modification. If the federal government expenses me one thing with the intention to train my rights, that’s an infringement. Why do I’ve to have an ID with the intention to possess or be in possession of a firearm? I do not know of any (legal guidelines) they should add — there’s a variety of issues that they need to take away.
There is a current one, for instance, on ghost weapons. If I’ve a weapon that I have been capable of construct myself and I’ve the talents to try this, why do I’ve to inform the federal government? It is actually none of their enterprise. There once more, I’ve a Constitutional proper to maintain and bear arms. That is my proper — I do not want the federal government. I should not have the federal government telling me I’ve to have a serial quantity. What what are you going to do now all now the federal government is aware of that I’ve this and that is its serial quantity?”
Extra background from WGLT: The legislation referred to right here is Home Invoice 4383, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed on Could 18. It bans possession and creation of weapons assembled at house from kits which might be accessible on-line. The kits and components wanted to assemble such a weapon don’t require a background examine. Based on a information launch, Illinois State Police have had 28 circumstances involving the hard-to-trace weapons within the first half of 2022. Illinois is the primary state within the Midwest to ban ghost weapons and one among 12 within the U.S. The ATF, below President Joe Biden, not too long ago modified its definition of what a “firearm” is earlier this 12 months, which means it now requires individuals who have a DIY-weapon to have handed a background examine to legally personal it and will need to have it serialized.
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: “My understanding is in accordance with the (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), which is a federal group, you are not allowed to have a machine gun. I perceive that, as a result of when taking pictures a machine gun you undergo a variety of ammunition actually quick. However is that infringement? I suppose it may be. I’ve heard folks discuss in regards to the Second Modification would not say you possibly can’t personal a cannon, so why ought to the federal government say you possibly can’t personal a cannon? If I need to personal a cannon, I ought to be capable to personal a cannon. I should not must have permission from the federal government for me to train my Constitutional rights — whether or not it is a easy, small caliber rifle, whether or not it is a pistol or revolver, whether or not it is what they name automated. To ensure that me to have possession of any a kind of, I’ve to have permission from the state — now that is mistaken, that is in violation of the Structure and that needs to be eliminated.”
On whether or not there needs to be protected storage legal guidelines: “That’s the accountability of an individual who owns a gun — to have the ability to preserve it protected. I consider that the dad and mom do have a accountability to show your kids not solely take into consideration that, however about something about security, whether or not it is from the best way to use your sharp knife and chopping the pancakes to driving a automotive.”
On background checks and psychological well being assessments to personal a firearm: “Background checks, to my understanding, are … you are in search of a felony. And for those who’re a felon, you’ve got given up your Constitutional rights. If a seller desires to examine and see… I haven’t got an issue with that. If anyone has a restraining order in opposition to them, they usually’re out to purchase a gun, then that in all probability needs to be a pink flag.
Relating to psychological well being, we’re not speaking about felony exercise. If somebody has a selected psychological situation, ought to they be allowed to personal a gun? My reply that may be if the individual is able to safely working one, I haven’t got an issue with that.”
a hundred and fifth Home District — consists of all or parts of 9 counties, together with Livingston, Peoria, Woodford Tazewell and McLean
Kyle Ham — Republican
- Former CEO of the Bloomington-Regular Financial Growth Council
- Former chief of workers for former State Treasurer Dan Rutherford
- Lives in Bloomington
On Illinois gun legal guidelines: “We have to work out a approach to shield kids and our faculties. We shield banks. We shield every kind of establishments — airports. Now we have to do extra to ‘securitize’ faculties. I have been in faculties the place there isn’t any type of safety on the entry, however I’ve additionally been to varsities like Regular West the place you must undergo a primary set of doorways and converse to somebody by way of a glass window earlier than they mechanically unlock the door to get by way of into the college.”
On whether or not there needs to be a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody can personal or buy a firearm: “I do not know whether or not psychological well being evaluation is the reply and I do not understand how you even derive what that appears like. I believe we as a society must be extra attuned to the folks round us. And, on the finish of the day, it is the dad and mom’ accountability to know what their children are doing, how they’re performing, and what they’re pondering. A number of these younger shooters, the place are the dad and mom?”
On whether or not there needs to be protected storage legal guidelines: “The concept of getting to undergo the lock-up system to guard your self — we’re down to private accountability to have gun homeowners preserve them out of harms manner and youngsters’s manner.”
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: “Overwhelmingly, the overwhelming majority of the folks that personal these kind of weapons are accountable and the information reveals that. I do not suppose that is going to be at first.”
On requiring periodic coaching for gun homeowners: “I do not see a must have recurring coaching, however I would be keen to have that dialogue. However that is only one thing more that solely impacts accountable gun homeowners.”
Mike Kirkton — Republican
- Livingston County Board member
- Veteran, proprietor/coach at High View Farms
- Lives in Gridley
On whether or not there needs to be a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody can personal or buy a firearm: “I would not say as a blanket, yeah, you must have a psychological well being evaluation prior to purchasing a gun, however there needs to be some form of checks and balances there so we do not let this occur once more. I do not suppose it is black and white — I believe it is grey. I imply, it is horrible. I assist the Second Modification, however but I do not assist folks with psychological disabilities or some type of bother of their previous taking a weapon and going into a faculty and taking pictures kids, for God’s sakes.”
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: “I am keen to have a look at giant magazine limits, however (finally) it is not the weapons system that’s killing folks — it’s the individual utilizing it that’s killing folks.”
On requiring periodic coaching for gun homeowners: “I believe there should be some type of coaching requirement and I believe it should take extra evaluation and research of the problem to find out what that type of coaching would seem like.”
Don Rients — Republican
- Former correctional officer
- Technical employee at State Farm
- Lives in Benson
On increasing state or federal gun legal guidelines to forestall mass shootings: “There could also be various things to do however controlling weapons isn’t one among them. You must catch evil folks earlier than they act with out violating the rights of people. Possibly it is the worth for being free. I hate to say it that manner, however we will at all times do higher to restrict the mass shootings on this nation. We are able to at all times do higher.
Self protection is at all times a consideration, perhaps not resulting from a harmful neighborhood however perhaps to a harmful authorities. Do you need to turn into a Nazi Germany the place they take away all of the weapons after which they inform you what to do? Do you need to be a China? You do not need to flip into these nations the place you’re a slave of the nation. We’re a rustic that’s working a trial run on private freedom. And that non-public freedom consists of defending oneself in opposition to a suppressive authorities.”
On whether or not there needs to be a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody can personal or buy a firearm: “That may violate the Second Modification, I consider, since you should not hinder anyone from with the ability to have a gun by the Structure, proactively. That requirement is a slippery slope as a result of the definition may change relying on whether or not the left is in energy. Who determines who’s mentally in poor health?”
On potential restrictions associated to assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines: No. They might be ineffective — you possibly can swap out magazines in a short time. That is nitpicking across the edges.’ The problem is not the gun, it is the individual. You’ll want to work out the best way to change folks’s hearts. My reply, being a Gideon, is to come back again to Christ. Simply get folks to come back again to Christ.”
On requiring periodic coaching for gun homeowners: “Periodic coaching necessities to personal a gun would violate the Second Modification by tying possession to approval by a authorities official.”
Dennis Tipsword — Republican
- Chief Deputy Sheriff of the Woodford County Sheriff’s Workplace
- Small enterprise proprietor
- Lives in Metamora
On increasing Illinois gun legal guidelines to forestall mass shootings: “I believe the very first thing that we will do, and we must always do is, make our faculties extra protected. Now we have to make faculties single-point entry. Now we have to make them locked — now we have to abide by that. It must be a zero-tolerance factor — the doorways are locked. We have to provide you with a zero tolerance coverage for having any of these doorways open for any purpose, we have got to make these faculties safer. And it is not simply faculties — we have got to speak with our grocery shops, and our buying malls, and, you recognize, film theaters. It is my opinion that once we got here up with gun-free zones, and placing stickers on buildings, saying that they’re gun free zones — I believe I believe that backfired on us, I believe it felt good, that somebody may put stickers on a faculty and say, ‘ This can be a gun free zone.’
I will put it on the market first, I do not suppose banning firearms basically goes to do a factor.”
On whether or not there needs to be a psychological well being evaluation earlier than somebody can personal or buy a firearm: “I believe now we have to one way or the other provide you with a greater security internet to catch these people who find themselves exhibiting these behaviors that will lead us or make them doing one thing like this. I do not suppose that there is a straightforward reply — there’s not a straightforward reply for this in any respect, or it could already be completed.”
On increasing pink flag legal guidelines: “Pink flag legal guidelines are, perhaps, well-intentioned. However I’ve seen so many circumstances if a breakup or a wedding gone unhealthy, to the purpose the place one of many one of many events comes and will get an order of safety in opposition to the opposite. The decide solely has what’s offered in his his or her courtroom to rule on an order of safety — and a variety of occasions, that data might not have been as correct, because the decide would have appreciated to have heard. That is that is the fear I’ve, as a result of all it takes is a disgruntled ex-spouse to come back in and make allegations. I believe the pink flag legal guidelines are inherently harmful, simply due to incorrect data that may be concerned in them. So I suppose I might be leaning towards, in all probability, abolishing them.”
On requiring periodic coaching for gun homeowners: “Once more, it goes again to, who’s coaching? What are the necessities? And no. No. The reply isn’t any. There are there are over 100 million weapons in the USA. The overwhelming majority of these weapons are owned by protected, law-abiding residents who perhaps discovered gun-handling expertise once they had been children, identical to my children all did from their father or their grandfather, or issues like that. So no, I do not suppose that there needs to be necessary coaching to personal a gun.”
