Illinois Senate approves 3 gun control bills on bump stocks, semi-autos

Senators green lighted a trio of House proposals that would tighten regulation on semi-automatics and bump stocks in the Land of Lincoln while a promised veto override lingers.

One bill, HB-1468, heads to Gov. Rauner for review and would mandate a 72-hour waiting period for some semi-autos as well as .50 BMG caliber rifles. Current state regulations have a 24-hour wait on longarms, but sponsors of the move argue more time is needed for guns classified as “assault weapons.”

“Increasing the waiting period to obtain an assault weapon ensures sufficient time to complete a background check and increases the ‘cooling off’ period for those who may cause harm to others,” said state Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Deerfield, before the 43-15 vote. “Requiring a 72-hour waiting period is a commonsense reform that will help keep our neighborhoods safe.”

Another bill approved by lawmakers, HB-1465, heads back to the House to discuss changes made in the Senate. The measure bars the sale or transfer of assault weapons and attachments, .50-caliber rifles and magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds to those under the age of 21. The Senate amendment modifies the language to grandfather the guns, magazines and accessories already owned by adults under 21 while the original House version would make any possession should the bill become law a criminal offense.

The third measure on the move, HB-1467, would make it illegal to sell, manufacture, purchase or possess devices described as bump stocks and trigger cranks. It also would allow municipalities to regulate or ban assault weapons. Like HB-1465, it also picked up a Senate amendment before passage 37-16 and returns to the House for a concurrence vote.

Local and national Second Amendment groups oppose the measures, as do many chamber Republicans, while gun control advocates support the legislation.

Gun dealer act veto

Also on deck in the chamber is a planned override vote of Rauner’s veto this week on a gun dealer licensing act.

“I wasn’t able to move to override the governor’s veto today, because the Senate has yet to receive his veto,” said Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park. “Assuming we receive it by the time we return on April 10, I will move to override it, and I am hopeful that my colleagues will join me in making sure this commonsense measure becomes law.”

Harmon would have to pick up some political allies to make the move happen, however, as the rejected proposal only counted 30 votes on its first run through the Senate and would need to hit 36 for a three-fifths super-majority to pull off an override.

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