IL Democrats call for federal assault weapon ban following Lewiston mass shooting

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A sense of deep sorrow remains across the country following last week's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine which left 18 people dead and 13 others injured. Democratic leaders in Illinois believe the United States needs an assault weapon ban as soon as possible.

Illinois is one of ten states that have banned assault weapons. However, Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters Friday that states can't prevent mass shootings on their own.

"You've seen the studies where 60% of violent crime in Chicago has been committed with guns purchased in Indiana," Pritzker said. "So we can do what we can do in the state of Illinois, but it is very hard if we don't have a federal law that bans those types of weapons."

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) said he prays the Lewiston mass shooting will be the tipping point to get a ban passed on the federal level. Yet, Durbin said he is also a realist and has seen nothing change after countless shootings across the country.

"We've had so many atrocities and massacres starting with first grade classrooms through people at a concert in Las Vegas. I mean the list is endless," Durbin said. "It just begs the question — Is this what America is all about? Is this what the Second Amendment really wanted to see us conduct with? I don't think so."

President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 following the mass shootings in Buffalo and Highland Park. That law enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21 by requiring checks by state police, local law enforcement and courts before a gun can be sold.

It also included $750 million for crisis intervention services over the next five years to support red flag laws and $250 million for community-based violence intervention programs. The law also provided new resources to expand community mental health services and violence prevention efforts for schools.

Guns — Caulkins said Illinois has wasted too much time and money fighting against Second Amendment supporters when he believes everyone should realize the law is misguided.

Durbin and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Highland Park) said they are glad to see Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine is changing his stance and calling on his colleagues to pass a national assault weapons ban.

"This shouldn't be a partisan issue. Our kids are at risk in schools," Schneider said. "Our families are at risk in their houses of worship. We need to work together to make everybody safe and make sure that what we're seeing transpire in Maine today but transpires across the country every day is something that is reduced and ultimately hope we can ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

The U.S. House passed an assault weapons ban in 2022, but that plan died in the Senate. Meanwhile, assault weapon owners in Illinois have until January 1 to register their first firearms with Illinois State Police.

Although the Illinois Supreme Court found the law constitutional, the legislation still faces a legal challenge before a federal court of appeals in Chicago.

Assault weapon owners can find answers to frequently asked questions on the Illinois State Police website by clicking here. Local assault weapon owners can also participate in a public hearing in the capitol complex on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.