Illinois Senate Approves Standalone Bump Stock Ban

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Senate approved a standalone ban on bump stocks and trigger cranks, devices which allow semi-automatic rifles to fire more rapidly. The 38-10 vote Thursday came six weeks after Senate Democrats sent a similar bill back to the House with what opponents described as a "poison pill."

Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) was the sponsor of the new bill. On March 14, he added an amendment to Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) HB1457 bill that would remove statewide restrictions on municipal firearm bans. House Democrats have shown no indication of bringing it to a vote.

At the time, Raoul cited the presence of Illinois students who had come to Springfield in support of tougher gun laws on the day of a national school walkout. His opponents in the Democratic Party's attorney general primary accused him of playing politics. Raoul went on to narrowly defeat former governor Pat Quinn – along with six other Democrats – just six days later.

“There are a lot of passionate voices on this issue, but one thing I hope we are all passionate about as lawmakers is keeping the people of Illinois safe,” Raoul said in a release announcing the Senate passage of the standalone ban. He has not responded to repeated requests for an interview on the subject.

“This is a simple step, but one that has the potential to save lives," Raoul said.

The bill (SB2343) amends the Illinois Criminal Code to make it an unlawful use of weapons offense to buy, sell, manufacture, carry or possess bump stocks or trigger cranks. The new Senate version uses the definition of bump stock proposed by the House, rather than the language from the earlier version.

That definition drew criticism for including the phrase "intended to increase the rate of fire achievable with the firearm to that of a fully automatic firearm." A spokesman for Raoul's campaign said the definition came from the Illinois State Police, but Lt. Matt Boerwinkle said state police were not the originator of the language.

Illinois lawmakers began proposing bans to the firearm accessories last October due to the increased attention the devices received after they were used by a man in Las Vegas on guns he used to shoot hundreds of concertgoers. Before the current iteration of the ban was reintroduced, a standalone proposal (HB4120) from Rep. Barbara Wheeling (R-Crystal Lake) was referred to the rules committee by House Democrats and ignored.

Advocates of stricter gun regulation say bump stocks allow legally purchased guns to effectively function as more restricted machine guns.

A spokesman for the National Rifle Association refused to discuss the devices on the record.

The Illinois State Rifle Association has pointed out the devices were approved federally by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives during the Obama administration and suggested it reconsider the ruling.

Last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a proposal to ban them nationwide on the eve of the March for Our Lives rally for gun violence prevention. President Donald Trump has said he supports such a ban.

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is the co-sponsor of Raoul's revised bump stock ban and the sponsor of a standalone bill allowing for local governments to craft their own gun regulations.

“This is a commonsense proposal that empowers local communities to make the decision about assault weapons that is in their best interests," Morrison announced, as her bill (SB2314) advanced through committee by a vote of 7-5.

Morrison has sponsored multiple bills in recent years seeking to allow more towns to pass bans on certain weapons, as several towns in her district did before the 10-day window in 2013 on municipal firearm bans expired. None have received a vote in the either house of the Democratic-controlled state legislature.

As for other gun legislation in Springfield, the deadline to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a proposal to require state-issued licenses for firearms expired Wednesday, as neither chamber ended up taking a vote on the Gun Dealer Licensing Act. It sponsor, Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) promised to reintroduce another version.

Related:

• Senate Democrats Killed Bump Stock Ban, Claims Rep. Scott Drury
• Bump Stock Ban, Gun Dealer Licensing, New Firearm Laws Pass House
• Deadline For Gun Bill Veto Override Looms As Thousands Protest