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Attorney General Kwame Raoul supports House Bill 218, which among
other things allows lawsuits for marketing firearms to children.
“We’ve seen an Illinois manufacturer remove their previous
advertisement for the ‘JR-15, own one just like mom and dad’s’ after
coming under national pressure,” Raoul told the Illinois Senate
Executive Committee Wednesday.
Opponents pushed back and said the vagueness of the overall proposal
likely will lead to court involvement challenging the bill if it
were to become law. Raoul said courts do that all the time.
“If that’s what gives you pause with this then we just need to just
revise our Illinois codes along a wide range of laws that we’ve set
out,” Raoul said.
State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, asked Raoul about what is
considered marketing.
“On [the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s] website, they
have a picture of a girl in camo with a shotgun,” Anderson said.
“Wouldn't that violate what you’re talking about, marketing to young
kids?”
Raoul said that example wouldn’t count because IDNR is not a
firearms manufacturer.
Another provision makes it unlawful for the gun industry to
advertise what could appear to support “unlawful paramilitary or
private militia activity.” Aurora Sportsmen’s Club board member Todd
Vandermyde asked who makes the call on whether sponsoring
self-defense training crosses over to paramilitary training.
“And we teach people how to defend their homes, how to clear their
homes, to get their family into a safe posture,” Vandermyde told the
committee. “SWAT teams call that CQB.”
Vandermyde also raised concerns that the language of the bill is too
vague and may wrap in everything from engineers to law firms who
contract with firearms manufacturers.
The measure could be queued up soon to send to the governor.
Legislators adjourn Friday.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and other
issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of award-winning
broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning Newsfeed out of
Springfield.
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