Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has proposed a statewide ban on assault weapons.
Quinn used his amendatory veto power Tuesday to include the ban in a bill related to ammunition sales. It's now up to lawmakers to accept his changes or reject them.
In a letter to members of the General Assembly, Quinn says the ban will make Illinois a safer place to live. The proposal also calls for a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. Quinn's proposal faces hurdles in Illinois, even after the massacre at a Colorado movie theater renewed national debate about assault weapons.
%22The%20Governor%20wants%20to%20be%20out%20there%2C%20saying%2C%20%27I%27m%20going%20to%20do%20something%20about%20this.%27%20It%27s%20a%20popular%20thing%20to%20say%20right%20now%20because%20of%20what%20happened%20in%20Colorado.%22%20-%20State%20Sen.%20David%20Luechtefeld%20%28R-Okawville%29
The bill's original sponsor is southern Illinois State Senator Dave Luechtefeld. He accuses Quinn of playing politics. Luechtefeld says Quinn saw an opportunity to gain some publicity.
The Okawville Republican says his bill and an assault weapons ban are two entirely different things. He says the governor should also have known that there are potential constitutional issues with how the amendatory veto was used to change the bill.
Luechtefeld's bill would have allowed Illinois residents to purchase ammunition from in-state vendor. Currently Illinois law only allows residents to by ammunition throught the mail from out of state suppliers. Luechtefeld says he will attempt to over ride the governor's veto.
