Illinois House OKs amendments banning semi-auto guns

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House has approved a series of measures that would ban semi-automatic assault weapons in Illinois.

One amendment approved Tuesday would make it a felony for anyone to possess a military-style assault weapon or to have large-capacity ammunition magazines.

Chicago Democratic Rep. Edward Acevedo says civilians shouldn't have these guns because they're made for “mass destruction.”

The debate was part of a procedure House Speaker Michael Madigan set up to allow open discussion of contentious issues. The first was last week, and he followed that one with another on pensions.

The amendments were approved with Democratic votes only.

Republicans refused to cast votes. GOP Rep. Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst says Madigan's procedure puts politics before public safety.