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TechnographGive me back my bullets
New gun control legislation poses new threats to our fundamental constitutional rights and safety
By Jacob Vial
Posted: 4/2/07 Section: Opinion Columns
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As we enjoyed a warm, spring weekend in Champaign-Urbana, things were also heating up in the Illinois General Assembly. On Friday, the State Senate passed a statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The legislation will now go before the House for consideration. The Senate also agreed to extend voting on a number of important issues until after Easter break.
Included is final debate on important gun control legislation proposed by democratic Senate President Emil Jones and company. Taking business owners' rights away with smoking bans, proposing six billion dollar tax increases, and lining their pockets with donations from utility companies while sticking the public with rate hikes apparently isn't enough for Illinois Democrats. Now they must cater to Mayor Daley and their Chicago constituency and take guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens.
The incorrectly named Assault Weapons Ban, sponsored by Senator Jones and co-sponsored by a handful of Chicago Democrats, is on the docket as SB16. If passed, not only would it outlaw the sale and possession of many automatic and semi-automatic weapons, it would also include many commonly used target rifles and shotguns as well. Another bill (SB102), would ban multiple sales of handguns during any 30-day period. In addition to the egregious violations these bills pose to the individual right to bear arms, these pieces of legislation don't specifically target violent criminals.
The legislation makes no distinction between punishing criminals trafficking weapons and punishing gun dealers selling to individuals for target practice. First time offenders of the Assault Weapons Ban are guilty of a felony. Joe Outfitter is as guilty as Joe Outlaw.
Proponents of gun control legislation often paint bloody pictures of murder, cite instances of misuse by children, and push for a top-down approach to gun control. However, while these gun critics are quick to present gun fatality figures, they ignore evidence of guns as deterrents. Those "Burma Shave" style signs along Illinois interstates aren't lying when they say that guns save lives.
Included is final debate on important gun control legislation proposed by democratic Senate President Emil Jones and company. Taking business owners' rights away with smoking bans, proposing six billion dollar tax increases, and lining their pockets with donations from utility companies while sticking the public with rate hikes apparently isn't enough for Illinois Democrats. Now they must cater to Mayor Daley and their Chicago constituency and take guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens.
The incorrectly named Assault Weapons Ban, sponsored by Senator Jones and co-sponsored by a handful of Chicago Democrats, is on the docket as SB16. If passed, not only would it outlaw the sale and possession of many automatic and semi-automatic weapons, it would also include many commonly used target rifles and shotguns as well. Another bill (SB102), would ban multiple sales of handguns during any 30-day period. In addition to the egregious violations these bills pose to the individual right to bear arms, these pieces of legislation don't specifically target violent criminals.
The legislation makes no distinction between punishing criminals trafficking weapons and punishing gun dealers selling to individuals for target practice. First time offenders of the Assault Weapons Ban are guilty of a felony. Joe Outfitter is as guilty as Joe Outlaw.
Proponents of gun control legislation often paint bloody pictures of murder, cite instances of misuse by children, and push for a top-down approach to gun control. However, while these gun critics are quick to present gun fatality figures, they ignore evidence of guns as deterrents. Those "Burma Shave" style signs along Illinois interstates aren't lying when they say that guns save lives.
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