The gun debate continues at the Illinois state capitol.
Sen. Ira Silverstein is targeting weapons like the AR-15, a popular semiautomatic rifle used in the recent Florida school shooting.
“I don’t know why people need these guns in the first place. They’re highly sophisticated powerful guns.”
But his plan goes further. It classifies several guns and attachments as “assault weapons.” Todd Vandermyde, a pro-gun lobbyist, says the title is misleading.
“Assault weapons is a fictitious term. It was made up by the anti-gun groups to sit there and try to demonize modern semiautomatic firearms and to confuse the general public that they’re machine guns when they’re not.”
A Senate committee advanced another bill allowing a family member or law enforcement to go to court if they feel a person who owns a firearm poses a significant danger. A judge could order seizure of guns.