Chicago
Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced an ordinance at Wednesday’s city council
meeting that looks to ban the import, sale, transfer and possession of
assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the city.
The
move comes in response to the concealed carry legislation the Illinois
General Assembly passed last month that is currently awaiting action from
Gov. Pat Quinn.
State lawmakers are required to come up with new legislation by a July 9 deadline following a federal court ruling back in December that struck down Illinois’ concealed carry ban. The deadline was extended from June 9 to July 9 to give Gov. Quinn more time to consider the bill once it passed.
Under the proposed statewide concealed carry legislation, HB 183,
sponsored by State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg), Illinois
municipalities will have 10 days after the bill is signed to pass a new
or updated assault weapons measure.
The Chicago Police
Department is making a “strong effort” to bring down gun-related crimes
and violence in the city in part by putting more police on the streets
and getting “kids, guns and drugs” off of them, Emanuel said in
remarks after the meeting.
“It is essential that we make
sure we do everything to bring safety to all our communities and
neighborhoods throughout the city,” Emanuel said. “The assault weapon
ban, and making sure it’s comprehensive, is part of that overall
strategy — bringing safety throughout our streets.”
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