Weapons Ban Considered in River Forest, Already in Place in Oak Park

Officials in suburban municipalities have been considering and taking action on assault weapons bans in recent weeks as state officials neared a final vote on concealed carry regulations in Illinois. 

The Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday voted to override Governor Pat Quinn's amendatory veto of new concealed carry regulations in Illinois with a 41-17 vote in the Senate and a 77-31 in the House of Representatives.

River Forest officials recently looked at a proposed ordinance that would ban weapons such as the AR-15 and grenade launchers and clips or magazines with more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and require police to destroy surrendered weapons, according to a Chicago Tribune report. Officials have not yet voiced their support or objection to the ordinance, according to the Tribune.  

Oak Park already has a weapons ban in place, making it illegal for a person to possess or carry any assault weapon or assault ammunition feeding device, according to village code.

The exceptions to the ordinance include:

• Peace officers
• Prison officials, 
• Members of the armed services or reserve forces
• Special agents
• Agents and crime investigators 
• Authorized transactions and organizations (manufacture, transport, sale)
• Licensed hunters or fishermen commuting to or from established game areas 
• Transportation of weapons broken down in a non-functioning state or unloaded
• Antique firearms
• Licensed collectors
• Members of established theater organizations in Oak Park, using only blank ammunition, "...Provided further that said organization maintains possession and control over these weapons in a safe place with a designated member of the organization when the weapons are not in use."