Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Renews Effort for Assault Weapons Ban 

2/08/13 | by S.H. Blannelberry 

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, one of the clarion voices of the modern pro-gun control movement, is renewing his charge for a statewide assault weapons ban.

During his 2013 State of the State Address on Wednesday, which many critics have dubbed a ‘2014 re-election speech,’ Gov. Quinn spoke about the need to address gun-related violence.

After referencing the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Quinn said, “We cannot wait for another tragedy to happen before we take action.”

“We must move forward with a comprehensive plan that includes gun safety legislation, mental health care, and violence prevention strategies,” Quinn continued.

Specifically, Quinn wants to ban ‘assault’ weapons and high-capacity magazines in addition to improving background checks and requiring all gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms.

“Of course, we must abide with the second amendment. But there is no place in our state for military-style assault weapons designed for rapid fire at human targets at close range,” said Quinn.

This platitude should ring familiar to anyone who resides in the Land of Lincoln.  Quinn used almost the exact same line when he invoked his amendatory veto powers to gut a pro-gun bill and turn it into an assault weapons ban back in August of 2012

“There is no place in the state of Illinois for weapons designed to rapidly fire at human targets at close range,” Quinn said last summer.

In other words, it’s the same old BS. Thankfully, that modified bill, that AWB, was shot down in the state Legislature this past December.

Quinn did not mention the federal appellate court ruling that struck down the state’s ban on concealed carry nor the fact that the Legislature is on a 180-day time clock (which started in Dec.) to pen a law legalizing concealed carry for all law-abiding citizens.

Instead, the Democratic governor doubled down on his support for ‘gun-free zones,’ what can arguably be called ‘soft targets’ for sociopaths.

“We must ensure that guns are kept out of everyday public places, because guns don’t belong in our schools, shopping malls, or sports stadiums,” he said.

What was fascinating about Quinn’s address was that he brought up Newtown, but he did not spend any considerable time mentioning the violence epidemic in Chicago.

How bad are things in the Windy City?

Well, as Chuck Goudie of ABC Chicago pointed out, “Forty-two people were killed in Chicago last month, the most in January since 2002, and far worse than the city’s most notorious crime era at the end of the Roaring Twenties. January 1929, there were 26 killings.”

To put it another way, the violence is worse today than it was when notorious mobster Al Capone ruled the streets of CHI-town.

And last year Chicago was the murder capital of the country, with over 500 homicides.  Of course, all this in a city that has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation.  Go figure.

In closing his spiel on gun control, Quinn said, “Our Public Safety Agenda is both comprehensive and common sense. Together, we can get it done.”