More citizen disarmament muscle flexing in Illinois

It seems that the Illinois Politburo legislature is planning another push to ban so-called "assault weapons" next week. The relevant portion of the article is at the very bottom, under "Guns."

The House last week killed a bill restricting handgun purchases to one per month. A bill to ban assault weapons will be called for a vote this week, said sponsor Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago.

The bill referred to here is almost certainly HB 4357, although it could alternatively be HB 873, which was also introduced by Acevedo. I don't know that it matters, as the language of the two bills seems identical--identically obscene. Here's the synopsis:

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a semi-automatic assault weapon, an assault weapon attachment, any .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge. Provides that beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a person who possessed a prohibited weapon, device, or attachment before the effective date of this amendatory Act if the person has provided proof of ownership to the Department of State Police within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, such person may transfer such device only to an heir, an individual residing in another state maintaining that device in another state, or a dealer licensed as a federal firearms dealer. Specifies penalties for violations. Provides exemptions. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

"Assault weapons," .50 caliber rifles (and ammo), and "large capacity ammunition feeding devices" (standard capacity magazines)--ambitious, aren't we, Representative Edward "Only One" Acevedo? Note that although the bill has a "grandfather clause," presumably to blunt opposition over the fact that people will be forced to surrender their legally purchased and owned firearms and accessories, it's somewhat meaningless. I don't keep the receipts for the guns and magazines I buy--how am I suppose to prove my ownership to the police? Besides, there is no such clause for the .50 caliber ammunition (which, being a consumable item, wouldn't mean much, anyway)--so you can keep your .50 caliber rifle, but now it's just an awkward, very expensive club.

It's quite possible that this talk of a vote next week is mere posturing--intended as a bargaining chip (some bargain!) to use on legislators who are sitting on the fence with regard to what I still think are their real priorities this session (HB 758--background checks for all private sales; and/or SB 1007--standard capacity magazine ban): "If you won't stand with us to get deadly assault weapons off our streets, then at least stand up for reasonable gun-control, like universal background checks and banning large capacity clips." That's a favorite tactic.

By the way, the article from the first link had a bit more about guns:

Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, is sponsoring a bill to allow Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons. It is stuck in the House Rules Committee, where nothing will happen to it unless Madigan agrees.

“I know better than to run around chasing my tail,” Schock said.

Well, Aaron, it's true that Madigan has your HB 4544 bottled up in committee, but how about putting some muscle behind HB 1304, since that one isn't stuck in Rules.