Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon urges cities to consider assault-weapons bans
June 10, 2013 (CHICAGO) -- Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is urging Illinois communities to consider banning assault-style weapons before new legislation is signed that could prohibit local governments from doing so in the future.
The General Assembly approved a measure last month that would end Illinois' last-in-the-nation prohibition on the concealed carry of firearms. The legislation, prompted by a federal court ruling that found Illinois' law unconstitutional, also prohibits future assault-weapons bans. It allows existing bans, such as one in Chicago, to remain in place.
Gov. Pat Quinn hasn't said whether he will sign the proposal, which the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has given him until July 9 to enact. Simon said if the bill is signed into law as written, cities with so-called "home rule" decision-making authority would have just 10 days to prohibit assault-style weapons.
"We have seen the tragic results assault weapons have had on our streets, in our schools, movie theaters and more," Simon, a Democrat from Carbondale, said in a statement Sunday. "The clock is ticking, so I encourage mayors and local officials to act now to ban assault weapons and retain local control over this important issue."
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/illinois&id=9133894
