The Chicago Tribune

February 14, 2001

Senate Democrats seek to close gun loopholes

By Lisa B. Song

One week after the shooting rampage at the Navistar diesel engine plant in Melrose Park, Democrats in the Illinois Senate today said they would introduce a new package of measures designed to close loopholes in state gun laws.
The proposals include a ban on sales of many assault weapons and stricter gun registration procedures.
"We want to stop the sale of guns and identify the guns," Senate Minority Leader Emil Jones Jr. (D-Chicago) said at a news conference at the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop. "Each and every point in this package is important to curtailing gun crimes," he said.
The latest proposals include a ban on sales of 17 types of assault weapons, semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns; limiting handgun sales to one per month; and requiring gun vendors to provide information about buyers to the Illinois State Police and the secretary of state's office. Currently, sellers do not have to send information about buyers to the two state agencies.
"It's hard to find a rationale as to why anyone would want an AK-47 or need more than 12 handguns in a year, unless the intent was to distribute," Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago) said at the news conference.
The legislative package also includes new requirements for people wanting firearm ownership identification, or FOID, cards. The bills would require people to appear in person, with identification, when applying for or renewing a card. They would also be required to be fingerprinted. In addition, FOID card renewals would list all guns owned by the cardholder.
The proposals come after the Feb. 5 shooting spree by William Baker, a former Navistar worker who killed four employees and wounded four others before taking his own life. Baker was armed with an assault rifle, shotgun, revolver and hunting rifle.
Though he was convicted of felonies in 1998 and 2000, no attempt was made to force Baker to relinquish ownership of his guns, authorities said. Currently, felons are required to give up their firearms, but not their FOID cards, which still could allow them to purchase weapons, Jones said.
Jones said he also is sponsoring legislation that would explicitly prohibit the carrying of an unloaded gun in a fanny pack. "Let's make that crystal clear; we want to close the loophole on carrying guns in fanny packs," he said. "Illinois is not a concealed (weapon) state."
Obama acknowledged that the proposed measures may not be supported by some downstate Democrats, but he said the bills "still need a fair and proper hearing" in Springfield. Last year, a package of gun-control measures did not make it out of committee and died in the legislature.
The latest proposals are expected to be introduced in the Illinois Senate next week.

[puke]

If we put up with this crap during a Republican administration, we might as well throw our own guns away.[:(!]

Just as LA and the Bay Area ruined CA, Chicago will ruin Illinois. It's inevitable -- too many city people are on the dole.

From the Democrat's Dictionary:

[i]Loophole[/i], n. A law you don't like.

"Obama acknowledged that the proposed measures may not be supported by some downstate Democrats, ..., Last year a package of gun-control measures did not make it out of committee and died in the legislature."

[green]The gun control freaks are really upset about the fanny pack carry law that they passed by mistake. If you don't know what the fanny pack thing is all about go here.[/green]

[url]http://www.gunssavelife.com/[/url]

[green]Illinois has a "republican" governor that is a liar and a thief and in bed with the Chicago dummycrats (liars and thieves as well). We get a constant stream of this BS. Check out this gem.[/green]

[url]http://www.isra.org/0208-122.html[/url]

And in REALITY this will have minimal if any effect on crime.

       [puke]

Where is the loopholl in "The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms, shall not be infringed"?  I dont understand what loopholl they are talking about.

Kharn

Sounds to me like more feel good legislation. I like Kharn's answer too.

now i'm not the smartest person in the world, spelling is not my strong point either (i'm a programmer), nor am i the brightest light bulb on the board, but let me get this stright, the Demo-rats want more gun laws while slick willie was screwing everything he can get his d*** in, robbed how much stuff from the white house which is yours and mine, his wife the queen witch never listed any of the gifts she received, marc rich got off because of how much was given to the official slick library (wonder what will be in the library, a bed, foot stool to kneel on for more oral sex, and a life time supply of rubbers, and a few porn movies) and they are worried about gun control, please!!!

The laws the rats are proposing are the same laws that are in place in maryland (the free state).

Those laws did not stop the maryland killings.

Why do these rats believe that these laws will prevent further killings in illinois?

I was born and raised in Chicago. I couldn't wait to get out.

I really got sick of hearing mothers of gang bangers (sport'n auto weapons who were shot by police during a gang shooting spree) complaing on the evening news that their "little angels" were "set-up" by the cops.

They should spend more time actually putting felons in jail (for their ENTIRE term) and removing their gun rights (which they don't deserve any more) rather than taking away honest citizen's gun rights.

They should also fire to the dumb a**hole who allowed this guy to keep his FOID card. Duhhh...

I thought that the Senators were more interested in closing the Loopholes in the Senate Pages....