Rep. Sente's ban on high capacity gun ammo moves to House Floor
A significant piece of legislation to reduce gun violence in Illinois has been voted out of the House Judiciary 1-Civil Law Committee and advances to the full House of Representatives for consideration. This legislation will prohibit ownership and manufacturing of high capacity gun magazines for civilian use.
“I sponsored this legislation because detachable high capacity magazines increase the lethality of guns. The common denominator among the plethora of mass shootings spanning the news over the past 5-10 years such as Tucson, AZ, NIU, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, TX and Columbine High School in Colorado is the use of high capacity ammunition magazines. High capacity magazines reduce the odds of an individuals' survival and for this reason I believe they should be banned.”
House Bill 1871 will make it illegal to manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase or possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device, also known as gun magazines, in the state of Illinois unless it is for the authorized use of government agencies like the military or police departments. A large capacity ammunition feeding device is defined as a detachable magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device with the capacity to be easily restored or converted to take more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Anyone who violates this law will receive a Class A misdemeanor for the first violation, a Class 4 felony for the second violation, a Class 3 felony for the third or subsequent violation, or for possession or delivery of more than 1 device simultaneously. Gun collectors who currently possess high capacity magazines will not be penalized.
“Keeping our communities safe requires the enforcement of these strict regulations, as well as collaboration between law enforcement and the community to reduce criminal's access to these dangerous weapons,” Sente said. “I have been hunting and trained in safe shooting skills. Hunters do not need a magazine that carries more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Evidence has shown us that these high capacity magazines are used time and again in mass shootings. These weapons do not belong on our streets.”
For more information, please e-mail RepSente@gmail.com.