Illinois Lawmaker Aims To Outlaw Semi-Automatic Firearms After Las Vegas Shooting

Illinois Lawmaker Aims To Outlaw Semi-Automatic Firearms After Las Vegas Shooting

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

An Illinois lawmaker wants to make semi-automatic firearms illegal in the state following the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Democratic Representative Martin Moylan says there’s no reason Illinois residents should own semi-automatic assault weapons. A bill he’s introduced would also outlaw “trigger modification devices” that speed up the rate of fire from semi-automatic guns.

Richard Pearson with the Illinois State Rifle Association says his organization might be on board to ban those devices, but that Moylan’s bill goes too far.

The bill makes exceptions for some semi-automatic weapons used for hunting. 

It also grandfathers-in anyone who already owns semi-automatic guns.