Illinois Lawmakers Abandon Assault Weapons Ban For Now

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Jan 7, 2013 7:05PM

Illinois lawmakers abandoned a proposal to ban assault weapons in the last few days of the lame-duck session, saying they hope to focus their energy on passing legislation addressing pension reform today in the final House session.

Late last week, legislation that would ban possession and sale of assault weapons and a separate measure that would ban the possession and sale of large capacity magazines advanced through the senate public health committee. The Senate failed to get the measure to a vote, though.

Over the weekend, the House brought the measure to a hearing with the Judiciary Committee, but, according to WBEZ, "despite a room packed full of supporters and opponents of gun control legislation, the committee meeting lasted less than two minutes."

“I don’t think there’s much to take away,” said Rep. Lou Lang, a Democrat who sits on the committee. “The sponsor wasn’t ready to call his bill. The amendment hadn’t been drafted and he wasn’t ready.”

When the brief meeting adjourned, several opponents of gun control stood and applauded.

The committee chair, state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, told WBEZ that the House didn’t act since the Senate had failed to, but the matter is likely to be addressed in the next session.