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"I am writing today [March 25] to urge you to change your position
on the assault weapons ban and to use your influence and position as
the state's top Republican official to work with your fellow
Republican members of the General Assembly to support the ban as
well," Blagojevich wrote. "As you know, we are only a few votes
short of passing the assault weapons ban. The legislators who should
be in a position to vote for the ban are Republican legislators from
the Chicago suburbs whose constituents strongly support banning
assault weapons. I know that the National Rifle Association and the
Illinois State Rifle Association are powerful special interests, but
as public servants, it is our responsibility to put the safety of
the people ahead of the demands of groups like the NRA and the
Illinois State Rifle Association."
The ongoing effort to pass a statewide assault weapons ban
intensified after the tragic murders this month of two young girls
from Englewood. Police report that 14-year-old Starkesia Reed and
10-year-old Siretha White were both killed by gunfire from assault
weapons that would be illegal to buy, own or sell in Illinois under
the proposed ban.
House Bill 2414, sponsored by state Rep. Eddie Acevedo,
D-Chicago, would prohibit the manufacture, possession and delivery
of semiautomatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments,
large-capacity ammunition feeding devices and the .50-caliber rifle.
Other banned weapons would include UZIs, Colt AR-15s and TEC-DC9s.
Under the proposed legislation, possession of a .50-caliber rifle
or assault weapon would be a Class 3 felony for a first violation,
carrying a sentence of two to five years, and a Class 2 felony,
carrying a sentence of three to seven years, for a second or
subsequent violation or for having two or more weapons at once.
Assault weapons fire bullets rapidly and can fire at multiple
targets, making them ideal for military use. For example, the larger
magazines allow a shooter to fire 20, 50 or even 100 rounds without
having to reload. Assault weapons have a high level of firepower,
can penetrate body armor and therefore pose a significant threat to
police as well as innocent bystanders.
In September 2004, leaders in Washington, D.C., allowed the
federal assault weapons ban to expire, despite promises from
President Bush that he would renew the law. Since the federal ban
was lifted, the Chicago Police Department has seized over 500
assault weapons -- 400 in 2005 alone. In fact, just this past New
Year's Eve, the Chicago Police Department recovered 22 weapons,
including an AK-47 and MAC-10 with a 30-round clip and a laser-sight
weapon that would be banned statewide if lawmakers pass the pending
measure.
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 Text of the governor's letter:
Office of the
Governor
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor
March 25, 2006
Dear Treasurer
Topinka,
I am writing today
to urge you to change your position on the assault weapons ban and
to use your influence and position as the state's top Republican
official to persuade your fellow Republicans who are members of the
General Assembly to support the ban as well.
As you know, we are
only a few votes short of passing the assault weapons ban in
Illinois. The legislators who should be in a position to vote for
the ban are Republican legislators from the Chicago suburbs whose
constituents strongly support banning assault weapons. I know that
the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Illinois State Rifle
Association are powerful special interests, but as public servants,
it is our responsibility to put the safety of the people ahead of
the demands of groups like the NRA and the Illinois State Rifle
Association.
Assault weapons can
fire 20, 50, and even 100 rounds without requiring the shooter to
reload. The .50 caliber sniper rifle has a range of up to 4 miles.
These are military style weapons that no law-abiding citizen needs.
In 2004, the
federal ban on assault weapons expired. Since the ban expired, the
Chicago Police Department reported seizing more than 500 assault
weapons. And according to a study of guns traced to crimes, based on
data compiled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the
prevalence of assault weapons declined 66 percent when the federal
ban went into effect.
The recent
tragedies we've seen in Chicago are just two examples of the
devastation these guns cause to individuals, to families, to
neighborhoods, and to entire communities. That's why I am urging you
to put politics aside and support the assault weapons ban and
encourage your Republican colleagues in the General Assembly to do
the same.
If you have any
questions about the assault weapons ban, please let us know. Thank
you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor
[News release from the governor's
office] |
