City Council Meeting October 3, 2012
BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION
MAGAZINES
WHEREAS, The Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004.
WHEREAS, Any person with a Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card in the State of Illinois has the ability to purchase an assault weapon such as an AK-47 or AR-15 or a .50 caliber sniper rifle.
WHEREAS, Illinois does not currently impose any restrictions on the purchase or possession of large capacity ammunition magazines.
WHEREAS, The recent shooting in Aurora, CO demonstrates the need to prevent an individual from stockpiling assault weapons and large ammunition magazines, and the assailant in that case obtained all weapons and ammunition magazines legally.
WHEREAS, The recent shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wl demonstrates the need to prevent an individual from obtaining large capacity ammunition magazines. While the assailant in this case did not use an assault weapon, his actions should compel us to examine ways to better track ammunition sales to prevent future violence.
WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court held that the scope of the Second Amendment right is not without limitations, and the court has recognized firearm regulations prohibiting a category of "dangerous and unusual weapons."
WHEREAS, Assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines serve no practical purpose except wounding and/or killing people.
WHEREAS, Governor Pat Quinn has submitted amendatory veto language to SB 681 that prohibits the manufacture, possession, delivery, sale and purchase of semi-automatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, .50 caliber cartridges and increases the penalty for crimes associated with these weapons.
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and City Council of Chicago, assembled on this 3rdDay of October 2012, do hereby show our support for Governor Quinn's efforts to ban assault weapons and large ammunition magazines in Illinois, call upon the Illin...
Click here for full text