U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-2nd) voted to pass H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2022, which passed by a vote of 217 to 213. Kelly represents Homewood and Flossmoor in Congress.
The act restores and updates the prior assault weapons ban that was in effect from 1994 to 2004.
“Time and again we’ve seen the deadly effects assault weapons have on our communities,” Kelly said. “I’ve listened to testimony from medical providers across the country about why these weapons of war are so deadly and why victims shot with these weapons often cannot be saved. We have data showing that violence decreases when these weapons are banned. It’s clear that we cannot carry on as is. I voted to pass the assault weapons ban because it will save lives.”
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 would:
- Prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of semiautomatic weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
- Update definitions of semiautomatic weapons under federal law.
- Require that semiautomatic weapons be securely stored so that they are not accessible to those who are prohibited from possessing them.
- Protect the rights of hunters, gun collectors, farmers, sport shooters and those who use firearms for self defense through exemptions for grandfathered weapons, antiques, most manually operated firearms, and more than 2,200 listed firearms that are not affected by its prohibitions.
This legislation is endorsed by Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the American Academy of Nursing, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners also took action on semiautomatic weapons. On Thursday, July 28, the board approved a resolution tracing the county’s history of regulating high-capacity, rapid-fire weapons and noting recent deaths and injuries because of gun violence in Chicago and in the mass shooting at the Highland Park 4th of July parade were cause for more action.
“The Cook County Board of Commissioners, in the most forceful manner possible, calls on the Illinois General Assembly and the United States Congress to enact legislation prohibiting the sale and transfer of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, and high capacity ammunition magazines.”
Commissioner Donna Miller (D-6th), whose district includes Homewood and Flossmoor, co-sponsored the resolution and issued a statement:
“I was proud to stand alongside my fellow Cook County Commissioners to call on the Illinois General Assembly and the United States Congress to enact legislation prohibiting the sale and transfer of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, and high capacity ammunition magazines. Our communities have been traumatized and victimized by senseless gun violence for far too long, and it is time for Illinois to take the necessary action to ban assault weapons.”