Hyde pleads for cooperation on gun legislation

This story, republished from our archives, first ran May 17, 2000.

SPRINGFIELD - Congressman Henry Hyde renewed his push Tuesday for Democrats and Republicans to work together on gun control proposals in the wake of the nationwide "Million Mom March."

Last week, Hyde, a Wood Dale Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, sent letters to President Clinton and Michigan Democrat John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the committee, urging action. Since the Mother's Day march, Hyde and Conyers have continued to exchange letters. At this point the discussions are largely technical.

Hyde said the march helped keep the issue alive politically. His fear is that Democrats would stall any gun proposal to make the Republican-controlled Congress look bad as the November elections loom.

"I have had the feeling that a lot of Democrats don't want the bill. The issue serves their political interests more than having the legislation," Hyde said. He said the march showed "that a lot of people are very serious and they ought to think twice about playing politics."

On Mother's Day, thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C., and cities across the nation lobbying for stronger gun control.

They are focusing their efforts on three key areas:

- Licensing and registration of all firearms;

- Stricter background checks and waiting periods for purchases;

- Mandatory safety devices such as trigger locks that prevent a firearm from being fired.

The "Million Mom March" Web site touts these as common sense proposals.

"While we acknowledge that guns may be necessary for hunting, law enforcement and national security, the proliferation of firearms intended for one purpose only - killing another human being - has become untenable," reads the march's on-line mission statement.

Area representatives and senators largely agree with what the "moms" had to say.

"I strongly support regulation and licensing," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat. He suggested using Illinois' firearm owner's identification card system as a nationwide model.

Durbin also said he supports stricter background checks and waiting periods on purchases in addition to requiring all guns be secured with trigger locks.

However, the call for a nationwide licensing and registration system is unlikely to draw action. Some Illinois members of Congress were reluctant to offer an opinion because such a proposal is not currently up for debate.

For instance, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, supports Illinois' system. She even has an Illinois firearm owner's identification card. But she opposes gun registration and has no position on what other states should do, said Kathy Lydon, Biggert's chief of staff.

Regardless of what happens in Washington, D.C., the effects in Illinois will be minimal.

"We already have most of those points covered," said Illinois State Police spokesman Mark McDonald.

Illinois began licensing firearms in 1968 with the creation of the firearm owner's identification card. The cards are filed with the State Police and anyone with a felony conviction or history of mental illness generally is prohibited from obtaining one.

Background checks on Illinois gun sales are done instantly through the State Police as well. If the purchase is approved, the buyer must wait 24 hours before receiving a rifle or other long gun and 72 hours before receiving a handgun.

Trigger locks are not mandatory, but since Jan. 1, adults can be fined and sent to jail if a child gets hold of a weapon and injures or kills someone because it was not securely stored.