As the fight for tougher gun laws pushes on, Illinois has announced a statewide ban on assault rifles.
On Tuesday, Governor J.B. Pritzker officially signed the “Protect Illinois Communities Act” into law at a ceremony held at the State Capitol in Springfield. It was attended by supporters of the bill and gun violence survivors. The bill’s passage made Illinois the ninth state to block the sale of high-powered weapons. Several semi-automatic guns, large-capacity magazines, and quick-firing mechanisms are all outlawed under this statute.
President Joe Biden commended the state on taking action to decrease the devastation that military-grade weapons have inflicted. Mass shootings plaguing the country, such as the Highland Park parade massacre that claimed the lives of seven people and wounded 48, were the driving force behind the ban.
“No Illinoisan, no matter their zip code, should have to go through life fearing their loved one could be the next in an ever-growing list of victims of mass shootings,” the Governor added.
Not everyone is cheerful about the ban. Gun enthusiasts believe the prohibition is a violation of their constitutional rights. Richard Pearson, gun rights advocate and executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, says he is already working hard to secure a temporary restraining order that will hopefully lead to a permanent injunction.
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