Deerfield Considers Assault Weapons Ban

Riley Hospital offers free gun locks to anyone. (Photo courtesy of Riley Hospital IU Health)
Riley Hospital offers free gun locks to anyone. (Photo courtesy of Riley Hospital IU Health)
Riley Hospital offers free gun locks to anyone. (Photo courtesy of Riley Hospital IU Health)
Riley Hospital offers free gun locks to anyone. (Photo courtesy of Riley Hospital IU Health)

Deerfield Considers Assault Weapons Ban

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On Monday night, the village of Deerfield in Lake County held a public hearing on a proposed assault weapons ban. The idea came from Deerfield mayor Harriet Rosenthal, who said “enough is enough” after the recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida that took the lives of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Back in 2013, before the state’s new Firearm Concealed Carry Act went into effect, home-rule municipalities like Deerfield had 10 days to make changes their the gun ordinances. At the time, the neighboring suburb of Highland Park banned assault weapons outright, and Deerfield put rules in place that required safe storage and transportation of the weapons. Since Deerfield acted during that 10-day period gave the village the ability to amend its ordinance at any time, and mayor Rosenthal says that time is now.

Morning Shift talks to Deerfield mayor Harriet Rosenthal about last night’s meeting of the Deerfield Village Board and how a ban would work if it passes in a meeting on April 2.

GUEST:

Harriet Rosenthal, mayor of Deerfield