Good senate news from Illinois:
Gun bills fail to pass Senate
By John O'connor
Associated Press
Advertisement
SPRINGFIELD -- Following the Illinois Supreme Court's lead, the Senate Thursday night rejected Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's proposals to allow lawsuits against the gun industry.
Another key measure to Daley's efforts to reduce violence on his city's streets -- limiting handgun purchases to one a month -- also failed 20-34.
On identical 24-31 votes, senators defeated measures that would have allowed cities to sue firearms dealers for selling guns to criminals and would have let people injured by handgun violence to sue for monetary damages against manufacturers.
"If, God forbid, you were shot, you would want to try to sue someone who transferred the gun illegally," said Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, the bills' sponsor.
But opponents said the measures would be used to harass dealers and drive them out of business with exorbitant legal fees.
"This is another attempt by the city of Chicago to rid the (state) of gun dealers and manufacturers," said Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo.
The measures could resurface in the House, but any bill still would need Senate approval.
Daley, a Democrat, has struggled to get gun-control legislation passed -- even after Democrats took over both legislative chambers and the governor's office two years ago -- because of differing opinions on guns around the state from southern Illinois hunters to crime-fearing urban dwellers.
Gun-control advocates also have fought among themselves.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Daley traded barbs last month because Blagojevich's administration registered opposition to some of the antigun bills and showed tepid support for others. Blagojevich countered that Daley's office didn't keep him informed of legislative action.
Opponents have suggested gun violence is a Chicago problem, but others say it affects all the state's cities.
"We have huge increases every day in crime," said Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, futilely arguing for her bill to limit handgun buys to one a month. "We have drive-bys. There are too many handguns not only in Chicago, but they're in the suburbs."
Daley's push for more gun-control did see a bright spot earlier Thursday. Both the Senate and House approved measures that require criminal background checks at gun shows -- just like those conducted on buyers in stores.
The Senate passed, 37-21, a Republican version that requires the state to destroy records of background checks that officials currently are keeping. Senators rejected a Democratic version that didn't mention the records.
The House also approved a gun-show bill, 63-51. It rejected one that went further and would have barred local ordinances that are stronger than state law when it comes to storing, selling and transporting guns.
Gun owners frustrated by local gun ordinances got a boost in the Senate. A bill there eliminates cities' power to regulate how guns are transported -- broken down into pieces or locked in a case, for example. It passed 34-25.
The Senate also rejected, 27-27, another bill backed by Daley, that would have created a separate crime for each illegal gun found on a person, meaning a potentially longer prison sentence. Opponents complained about a provision requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen guns within 72 hours.
Each bill that passed now goes to the other chamber.
The bills are SB57, SB219, SB546, SB1330, SB1331, SB1332, SB2104, HB341 and HB794.
Get more news at http://www.mouseguns.com
Gun bills fail to pass Senate
By John O'connor
Associated Press
Advertisement
SPRINGFIELD -- Following the Illinois Supreme Court's lead, the Senate Thursday night rejected Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's proposals to allow lawsuits against the gun industry.
Another key measure to Daley's efforts to reduce violence on his city's streets -- limiting handgun purchases to one a month -- also failed 20-34.
On identical 24-31 votes, senators defeated measures that would have allowed cities to sue firearms dealers for selling guns to criminals and would have let people injured by handgun violence to sue for monetary damages against manufacturers.
"If, God forbid, you were shot, you would want to try to sue someone who transferred the gun illegally," said Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, the bills' sponsor.
But opponents said the measures would be used to harass dealers and drive them out of business with exorbitant legal fees.
"This is another attempt by the city of Chicago to rid the (state) of gun dealers and manufacturers," said Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo.
The measures could resurface in the House, but any bill still would need Senate approval.
Daley, a Democrat, has struggled to get gun-control legislation passed -- even after Democrats took over both legislative chambers and the governor's office two years ago -- because of differing opinions on guns around the state from southern Illinois hunters to crime-fearing urban dwellers.
Gun-control advocates also have fought among themselves.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Daley traded barbs last month because Blagojevich's administration registered opposition to some of the antigun bills and showed tepid support for others. Blagojevich countered that Daley's office didn't keep him informed of legislative action.
Opponents have suggested gun violence is a Chicago problem, but others say it affects all the state's cities.
"We have huge increases every day in crime," said Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, futilely arguing for her bill to limit handgun buys to one a month. "We have drive-bys. There are too many handguns not only in Chicago, but they're in the suburbs."
Daley's push for more gun-control did see a bright spot earlier Thursday. Both the Senate and House approved measures that require criminal background checks at gun shows -- just like those conducted on buyers in stores.
The Senate passed, 37-21, a Republican version that requires the state to destroy records of background checks that officials currently are keeping. Senators rejected a Democratic version that didn't mention the records.
The House also approved a gun-show bill, 63-51. It rejected one that went further and would have barred local ordinances that are stronger than state law when it comes to storing, selling and transporting guns.
Gun owners frustrated by local gun ordinances got a boost in the Senate. A bill there eliminates cities' power to regulate how guns are transported -- broken down into pieces or locked in a case, for example. It passed 34-25.
The Senate also rejected, 27-27, another bill backed by Daley, that would have created a separate crime for each illegal gun found on a person, meaning a potentially longer prison sentence. Opponents complained about a provision requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen guns within 72 hours.
Each bill that passed now goes to the other chamber.
The bills are SB57, SB219, SB546, SB1330, SB1331, SB1332, SB2104, HB341 and HB794.
Get more news at http://www.mouseguns.com