Impatient Emanuel Working On New Gun Control Ordinance

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 11, 2013 6:45PM

Photo credit: ©2012 City of Chicago/Brooke Collins

Late Thursday Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced he was working on a new local gun control ordinance, since the Illinois General Assembly couldn’t get its act together to pass anything in its lame duck session except for a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.

Saying that “waiting is not his strong suit,” Emanuel told media he hoped the ordinance his administration is writing will help spur Springfield into action. (Excuse us while we wipe away the water we just spit on our computer screen.)

”I believe there's, I know there's a majority in the state, an overwhelming majority in the city for a ban on assault weapons, clips, and comprehensive background checks on all sales, wherever they take place, wherever the location may be. And there's also a majority in the legislature.”

The Illinois Senate lacked the votes for passing legislation banning assault rifles and large capacity magazine clips last week. They decided instead to focus on crafting a deal on pension reform; the outgoing General Assembly eventually decided to leave the pension crisis in the hands of incoming state representatives and senators.

Emanuel wouldn’t provide details on the ordinance, probably for good reason. Any legislation his office unveils will undoubtedly face a legal challenge if passed by City Council. The Supreme Court ruled the city’s handgun ban drafted by former Mayor Richard M. Daley unconstitutional in 2010,