‘Meaningful action’: White House celebrates Illinois assault-style weapons ban
Christian Datoc
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The Biden administration thanked Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) Wednesday for taking “meaningful action on behalf of all Illinoisans” by signing an assault-style weapons ban into law the day prior.
Illinois‘ new law bans the sale, delivery, and purchase of more than 100 “assault weapons.” Pritzker signed the bill Tuesday evening after it passed both the state Senate and House earlier that day.
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SIGNS ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS BAN INTO LAW
“Illinois has now become the ninth state across America to pass an assault weapons ban and take bold action to keep weapons of war off America’s streets. Today, President Biden commends the leadership of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, Rep. Bob Morgan, and the numerous advocates, survivors, and elected officials whose tireless efforts turned the pain of Highland Park and other acts of gun violence into meaningful action on behalf of all Illinoisans,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“Too many Americans across the country continue to lose their lives or their loved ones to gun violence,” she continued before outlining steps the administration has taken to curb gun violence over the past two years.
“The president has continued to press for more action to keep our homes, schools, and communities safe, including federal laws requiring background checks for all gun sales and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Jean-Pierre closed. “In the meantime, he continues to urge other states to join California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Delaware, Washington, D.C. — and now, Illinois — to ban assault weapons at the state level to save lives.”
Pritzker himself said that he is “tired of living in a world where a mass shooting needs a title so you know which one we’re referring to” when announcing the ban Tuesday night.
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A number of Second Amendment activist groups have pushed back on the new law.
“Not only does this tyrannical proposition infringe on the rights of all Illinois citizens, but it is also extremely dangerous,” Gun Owners of America said in a statement. “These commonly owned semi-automatic firearms are used countless times every year to save lives and deter crime. Banning them will only prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing the best firearm to defend themselves. Not to mention, the requirement to register currently owned firearms is vehemently unconstitutional.”