GOV MUM AS ILLINOIS DEMS, NRA ZERO IN ON ‘ BUMP STOCKS’
As “bump stocks” enter the gun policy discourse in the aftermath of the Las Vegas massacre, a north suburban Democrat is hoping to pass legislation that would ban both assault rifles and conversion devices such as the one used in the nation’s deadliest modern mass shooting.
The Mandalay Bay tragedy catapulted the previously obscure bump stocks into the headlines. Nationwide, Democrats and Republicans are taking a look. Even the National Rifle Association entered the fray, suggesting additional regulation could be in order.
But Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was not ready to w join that chorus, declining to taken a position on specific gun control measures, including the conversion devices.
A bump stock device allowed Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock to turn a semiautomatic rifle into a fully automated weapon, which he used to spray bullets into a crowd of concert- goers with devastating results.
A bill introduced Thursday by state Rep. Marty Moylan, D- Des Plaines, would ban military- style weapons and any device that converts a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon.
Another measure state legislators hope to push through soon would allow officials to remove guns from a home if someone is experiencing a “temporary crisis,” while another — pending in the House — would give the state authority over gun dealers, instead of just leaving oversight to the federal government.
Moylan’s legislation would make it illegal for anyone to possess, deliver, sell or purchase an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50- caliber rifle, .50- caliber cartridge or large capacity ammunition- feeding device. It also bans bump stocks.
The two issues — assault weapons and bump stocks — would be paired together, which Moylan said is expected to meet some criticism.
While the NRA expressed openness to looking at regulating bump stocks, the gun lobby has opposed bans on assault weapons.
Rauner has refused to weigh in on assault weapons bans or outlawing the conversion devices, instead steering the questions about gun legislation to dealing with “mental illness.”
“We as a society, the No. 1 thing we got to do is keep our people safe. … These instances where it seems like there are mentally ill, deranged individuals, what can we do? I think the main thing is that we stay alert for suspicious activity and make sure that we have very vigilant residents and police officers, etc.,’’ Rauner said at an Aurora event on Thursday.