Battle Lines Drawn In First Illinois House Gun Debate
From the Chicago Tribune
The Illinois House opened up the spring session's first major debate between gun rights and gun control forces Tuesday, the two sides wrangling over how to balance a federal court decision that calls for making guns easier to carry in public along with addressing the rising violence on Chicago's streets.
Searing testimony ranged from a haunting plea for stronger background checks delivered by a mother whose child was killed five years ago in the mass shooting at Northern Illinois University to the staunch demand to pass concealed weapons legislation.
Gun control advocates have urged strong restrictions throughout the country, including in Illinois, given the tragic deaths of children in Newtown, Conn., and the shooting of high school band majorette Hadiya Pendleton a mile from President Barack Obama's Chicago home. Last week, Obama stood on the South Side with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn in pressing for a crackdown on gun violence.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, called for Tuesday's hearing and another Friday in Chicago to help shape the parameters of a debate that is sharply divided by lawmakers who want Illinoisans to be able to carry concealed weapons, others who don't and some seeking compromise.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
The Illinois House opened up the spring session's first major debate between gun rights and gun control forces Tuesday, the two sides wrangling over how to balance a federal court decision that calls for making guns easier to carry in public along with addressing the rising violence on Chicago's streets.
Searing testimony ranged from a haunting plea for stronger background checks delivered by a mother whose child was killed five years ago in the mass shooting at Northern Illinois University to the staunch demand to pass concealed weapons legislation.
Gun control advocates have urged strong restrictions throughout the country, including in Illinois, given the tragic deaths of children in Newtown, Conn., and the shooting of high school band majorette Hadiya Pendleton a mile from President Barack Obama's Chicago home. Last week, Obama stood on the South Side with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn in pressing for a crackdown on gun violence.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, called for Tuesday's hearing and another Friday in Chicago to help shape the parameters of a debate that is sharply divided by lawmakers who want Illinoisans to be able to carry concealed weapons, others who don't and some seeking compromise.
Read more in our daily News Update...