by Todd Vandermyde and John Boch
(I've taken Todd's update and cleaned it up for grammar and added some information.)
Illinois House member and progressive Democrat Marty Moylan hates guns and couldn’t care less about gun owners. To Marty Moylan, gun owners are no better then sex offenders.
Earlier this year, the former union “enforcer” wanted to add $75-$100 to the cost of a FOID card renewal. And now, he couldn’t even wait until the first funeral in Las Vegas before he pulls a political stunt and introduces House Bill-4107.
His gun control bill serves as a big grab bag of gun control wishes. The following serves as a quick and dirty analysis. In short, it’s bad.
- HB-4107 contains a broad ban on all semi-automatic rifles that can accept a magazine or shotguns that can hold five plus rounds.
- It contains a ban on all magazines over 10 rounds. Should this bill pass, if you have two or more standard capacity magazines, you will spend a minimum of four years in prison. Considering that armed robbers regularly receive probation in Cook County courts, that’s something.
- 4107 bans not only bump-fire stocks, but also all trigger modification parts. Under this bill, your gun with a fluff and buff trigger job would land you in prison for a minimum of four years. Ditto for replacing a spring in your shotgun’s action.
- In addition, all .50 caliber firearms and .50 caliber ammunition would be banned.
- Existing firearms could be registered, at $25 per, with the Illinois State Police. They could not be transferred except to a dealer, an heir or to police. No grandfathering for magazines.
Legislative Chaos
Don’t fool yourself and think this bill cannot pass given the breadth of gun control it contains. “Don’t be concerned” some say.
Don’t seriously and foolishly underestimate the political winds.
We not only face a hostile legislature, but the anti-gunners remain quite butt-hurt over concealed carry. What’s more, we have beat back their gun control initiatives repeatedly. Gun control advocates and anti-gun Democrats want a win, and almost feel entitled to pass some sort of gun control to balance the scales for the passage of concealed carry.
Add to this a near-open revolt within the Republican party. The Republican House caucus that appears to be at war with the governor.
First the tax hike passed, then the Chicago school bailout bill passed, and then the Governor signed the taxpayer-funded abortion bill. A good many Republicans are beyond livid with the governor, and it grows with each passing day.
We may become collateral damage of that war.
The prolonged budget debate and tax increase has led to a number of “retirements” from both parties. Our sway with “retiring” legislators is seriously undermined as they no longer have to worry about voters rejecting them at re-election time.
What’s more, several retiring legislators are extremely upset that their careers have been short-circuited by a billionaire governor and his friends with threats of well-financed primaries.
Yes, in the past we could count on legislative over-reach to help defeat bills. However, after the Mandalay Bay attack, logic and reason have left the building.
It’s even worse:
Gun grabbers have begun working hard to breathe life back into SB-1657, the Illinois Gun Dealer Licensing Act. They reportedly are burning up the phones.
You remember that one – the bill that Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms’ lobbying outfit traded away opposition in exchange for an exemption for the two companies. Thanks in part to that treachery by the Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association, the bill squeaked through the Senate. Fortunately, we held it up in the Illinois House, with the bill’s sponsors unable to achieve the 61 votes needed for passage.
We hear how anti-gunners hope to bring both bills up during the upcoming veto session which kicks off October 24th.
While one retiring Republican found himself on the bill as a co-sponsor, when we reached out to him, he indicated that was a mistake and he did not authorize anyone to add him as a co-sponsor of the bill. He will have his name removed as a co-sponsor as early as possible.
Illinois legislators in Vegas during attack
At the time of the Vegas terror attack, the gaming industry held their annual trade meeting. About a dozen legislators from Illinois where in Vegas for this event. These reportedly include Kathleen Willis, the sponsor of SB-1657 (The Gun Dealer Licensing Scheme). No doubt she and perhaps others will regale us with emotional, possibly embellished tales used to try to sell their latest gun ban.
Call and / or write your State Representatives.
Start calling calling about these two bills. Call or write everyday. Have your friends call, and also your neighbors, coworkers and spouses. Ditto for your kids.
Don't. Pass it
I am a law abiding Illinois voter and would like to keep my guns for varment hunting. I am not sure if you understand how fast a coyote runs. I hunt open hilly terain and no houses around. Which adds to my success as a varment hunter. This is a hobby and I wish to keep this hobby. I am not sure how 1 crazy person can effect all of Illinois while Illinois has the STRICTEST GUN LAWS already. We need to spend our government money on taking care of the ILLEGAL people with guns. I can't imagine how many thugs in the city of Chicago get away with murder with No F.O.I.D. Card. Let's face reality the Crook will always have guns and when they find out we have our legal rights stripped away. They will come and KILL US ALL.
You forgot to mention Gov. Rauner signing the bill to make Illinois a sanctuary for illegal aliens. He cannot be trusted.
Rauner is nothing more than a Democrat , dressed as a Republican. He is left-wing trash and always has been. Don't trust that ass hat as far as you can throw him.
TRUE!
I oppose these bills. They do absolutely nothing and will accomplish nothing.
Enforce the laws on the books as they are.
The prisons sound like they will be overflowing! Good time to work at a prison in Illinois!
Calls made to IL Sen. and Rep.
Also took advantage of an opportunity to talk it up with others (non-gunners). When they asked me if the "bump stock" will be banned, I told them it probably would – and then I told them about all the other crap thery're going to try to pile on top of that ban, like magazine limits and going to prison for a trigger job. I explained what a trigger job was, and they figured out that putting people in prison for that was a pretty bad idea.
Remember to talk to non-choir members about this! And offer to take them shooting. They may never have been invited before.
John N.
The people making the laws don't understand that the only people that it effects are those that obey the laws in the first place. The criminals WILL NOT be concerned and have free range knowing that it's harder for people to protect themselves. Chicago is the perfect example of these laws… IF GUNS ARE OUTLAWED ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE GUNS !!!!!!
How can you justify a increase in the FOID card. First it is techincally unconstitutional. Second it costs the State of IL $500K more a year to run the program than they make. Now wonder we are in a crisis. No business can operate at a $500K loss a year and stay in business. So your answer is to throw more money at it and maybe it will fix the problem. The problem across the board is not law abiding gun owners but the criminals who do not care about your laws or rules. Fix the problem. When a terrorist blows up a building we dont blame the bomb, when a drunk driver kills someone we dont blame the car then why when a nut shoots up people do we always blame the gun?
I wonder if we can make chigao a state by it's self. Then they can the rest of Illinois alone.
looks like Dem's are piling onto the bill. Sick!
Once more: use of undefined/undefinable, nebulous, confusing terminology. And a 'requirement' for registration with no means for those who'd do so, to know how to register. — The Bill is a piece of garbage —- I do agree, however, that we gun owners still need to exercise vigilance, to protect ourselves and our friends from these types of proposed legislation.
My ? Is is the state going to pay u for the rifle that u have I’m taking it as a no
My next ? Is r the guns going to be destroyed or sent to another state to sell and the state keep the money
Do NOT pass this bill or any part therein. By doing so you are treading on the rights of responsible people. For what? Someone who snapped? ITS NOT THE GUNS, IT'S THE PERSON BEHIND IT ! WHAT WILL YOU BAN NEXT, CARS BECAUSE SOMEONE DRIVES THROUGH A CROWD? BE SENSIBLE.
The only place there is a real problem with firearms in Illinois is Chicago. Why don’t you take care of the real problem and leave everyone else alone. I’ve lived my whole life in this state and it’s terriible how bad the government has let it get. Bankrupt and crooked politicians.
When has the time passed for diplomacy, lobbying, litigating, complaining and all the other BS?
Just like the old cowboy and injun, cops and robber shows on tv, the bad guys always want to take your guns so they can control the good guys. Rogue government that takes an Oath to uphold the Constitution including the 2nd Amendment of ,,,shall not be infringed," they're the bad guys.
Have you considered that given the way it is written referring to capacity on shotguns that all three gun event shotguns would be classified as assault weapons? Further, I am very uncomfortable about what could be done with vaugeness of detachable magazine definitions.
If I own a 5 shot semi auto shotgun for trap and skeet, will the fact I can add a tube magazine extension also make that shotgun an assault weapon?
All of this garbage has NOTHING to do with stopping violence it's about Illinois liberal Dummycrats pushing their socialist agenda. they do nothing about the gang violence or the revolving door on the jails because they don't care about that, they want a nanny state where the Gov't controls everything and gun owners represent the liberty they despise. They are exploiting the tragedy in Las Vegas to push the agenda. Bruce Rauner is a TRAITOR and is trying to appease the liberal loons because he thinks they will vote for him but he'll get the Mark Kirk treatment and get dumped for the first Dummycrat who comes along.