State Senate bill takes aim at shotguns
March 18, 2003
Jeff Lampe
jlampe@pjstar.com
Illinois firearm owners are up in arms over a new piece of gun-control legislation in the state Senate. Figuratively up in arms, mind you. At least for now.
The specific source of concern is Senate Bill 1195, which has passed out of committee and could come up for a vote this week. The bill would make it illegal for Illinoisans to own or take delivery of a long list of guns that includes "any firearm having a caliber of 50 or greater."
For those who aren't gunsmiths, that means while you would still be able to own a .410 shotgun or a 38- gauge shotgun - if you can find one - your trusty 10- gauge, 12-gauge, 20-gauge and even 28-gauge shotguns would all have to be turned over to police and destroyed.
The primary sponsor of the bill is Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago. The architect of the bill is Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. The concern about the bill may be well- founded.
"This is the centerpiece of what (Daley) wanted. This is a message to every hunter and every shotgun owner out there. You are in their sights, too," said Richard Pearson, president of the Illinois State Rifle Association.
Locally, Sen. George Shadid, D-Edwards, said he does not favor the bill.
Frankly, I can't see how any other senators could support such a ridiculous piece of legislation. As a rule I do not report much about gun-control legislation. But this bill's attempt to lump shotguns under the heading "semi-automatic assault weapon" is deceptive, to say the least. Conjure up an image of an "assault weapon." Do you see a shotgun in that picture?
I have heard fairly compelling arguments about the need to get Uzis off the streets. I will never hear a compelling argument about the need to get shotguns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens. Yet this bill will pass if it receives support from 30 of 59 Senate members.
"If I knew they only had 26 votes (in support) I wouldn't be worried," Pearson said. "But we don't know that yet. My gut reaction is if sportsmen get organized we can stop this thing. But if sportsmen aren't organized. . . "
The Senate bill would not create law in and of itself, of course. Similar legislation would have to pass through the House. And Gov. Rod Blagojevich would have to sign the bill - a signature that would instantly turn Blagojevich into a liar.
Remember, earlier this fall on the campaign trail Blagojevich signed a pledge stating, "I will protect the rights of sportsmen in Illinois to participate in these and other outdoor activities, by making the most effective use of the resources available . . . and by consistently defending their rights to carry out these activities."
Obviously, banning the shotguns most commonly used by hunters goes against that pledge.
To help make that point, the ISRA will hold a rally Thursday morning at 9 a.m. in Springfield. Meet at the Stratton Building Cafeteria, located across from the Illinois Capitol Building.
If you can't make the trip, call your senator and voice your opinion.
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Sorry. Right now, I'm enjoying a bit of Schadenfreud over those
poor hunters, who didn't give a damn when they passed bills
outlawing "assault rifles", but now that their precious shotguns
are under attack, they're running around like organ grinder monkeys
