Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Tuesday praised lawmakers for advancing gun control legislation named for slain Cmdr. Paul Bauer, one day before officials are expected to take a series of votes to tighten firearm restrictions in Illinois.
The House and Senate could try to move gun control legislation to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk on Wednesday, weeks after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Archdiocese of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich is expected to be in Springfield to support the efforts, and among the proposals lawmakers could consider is a long-stalled plan to license gun dealers.
Speaking before a House committee Tuesday, Johnson was joined by fellow officers wearing dress blues. He spoke about Bauer, who was shot and killed Feb. 13 after he thrust himself into the pursuit of a felon carrying a gun outside the Thompson Center. The proposal named for Bauer would ban high-capacity magazines and raise penalties for the unlawful use of body armor.
“We are fortunate that the monster that committed this act of barbarism is in a jail cell. It is my hope that he never sees the light of day,” Johnson said of Shomari Legghette, who faces charges in the slaying. “At the same time, I do believe it’s important that we do everything in our power to ensure that these types of acts don’t occur again.”
Democrats pushed the gun bills through a committee Tuesday, sending them to the House floor despite Republican opposition. GOP lawmakers said the recently drafted legislation was being “rushed,” adding that the wide scope of the proposals would harm law-abiding gun owners across the state.
Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart of Freeport said the accounts of Bauer from friends and descriptions in the news media painted a picture of a man “who liked to do things right,” but said the proposed law in his honor needs “lots of changes.”
“In my opinion, it would be doing a disservice to his memory by supporting a bill that wasn’t done right the first time,” Stewart said.
Gun politics in Illinois often split along regional divides in addition to partisan ones. That means some Democratic lawmakers in Downstate districts with a strong hunting culture may be less inclined to vote for new restrictions than some Republicans in suburban districts.
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In announcing Wednesday’s votes, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan cited an outcry from students and families “whose lives have been forever changed” after the Parkland shooting. Lawmakers typically avoid taking up controversial measures so close to an election, and the Illinois primary is March 20.
Other proposals under consideration include restricting the sale of certain weapons to those 21 and older, enhancing screening requirements for people with a history of mental illness and banning “bump stocks.”
State Rep. Daniel Burke, D-Chicago, called Tuesday’s committee action “a small step.”
“We want our constituencies to understand that we are aware of their dilemmas, and we are aware of the plea of our society to stop gun violence,” he said.
Some of the gun proposals have been around the Capitol before. Legislation to license gun shops first passed the state Senate last year, but it was not called for a vote in the House at the time amid staunch opposition from gun rights groups that contended fees associated with licensing could dramatically increase the burden on small business owners and drive up the cost of firearms.
A Senate committee has since advanced legislation to limit licensing fees to $1,000 for a five-year period to try to calm those fears, but the change has not won over gun retailers. Opponents say that gun sellers already are licensed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which requires background checks.
Supporters contend federal agents are unable to inspect a large portion of the state’s gun sellers and say requirements for a license such as video surveillance and training staff on how to prevent straw purchases are common-sense approaches.
Twitter @lukitsbill
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