State Representative David Reis spent the final two days of February in Springfield, battling Chicago Democrat-led attempts to implement a wide-ranging gun control agenda. Within 48 hours, legislation that creates new restrictions on age, ammunition limits, and new costs and licensing requirements on small business owners that sell firearms passed from committees to the House Floor for debate. David Reis voted against each of the anti-gun measures described below.
HB 1465 would increase the minimum age to 21 for purchases of semi-automatic firearms or ammunition like the AR-15, .50 caliber shells, high capacity magazines and a host of other munitions. The bill narrowly passed the House 64-51 over Rep. Reis’ strong objections.
“HB 1465 is an egregious overstep by an out-of-control Democrat Party,” Reis said. “This type of gun grab is what was in mind when the founding fathers of our country made sure Second Amendment protections were included in the Constitution. This type of legislation is the slickest of slippery slopes. The bill doesn’t carve out protections for active military or veterans, and makes law-abiding gun owners into criminals overnight. This is a gun grab that does not even grandfather in people that already legally own these items.”
SB 1657 would create new licensing costs and regulations for small, independent gun dealerships. The bill is probably the most notorious piece of legislation among gun owners and Second Amendment supporters in Illinois, drawing more than 14,000 opponents on the record when presented to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill creates a new fee and additional licensing regulations for businesses that do the majority of their business selling guns and ammunition. The bill would require gun dealers to have a state license for the owner, a state license for the dealer, and possibly a local license in addition to the federal license that is already required. The bill also allows for local governments to impose additional requirements on gun dealers.
“Once again, here come the gun-grabbing Democrats running a bill that will cost law-abiding gun dealers more time and money while at the same time killing jobs,” Reis said. “When Democrats say things like ‘common-sense’ gun regulation, my ears perk up and I’m looking for my ‘no-vote’ button. Folks that don’t own guns or know our culture and history in Southern Illinois don’t appreciate the traditions that we share with generations of our families. We teach our kids how to hunt and how to responsibly own and use firearms. We don’t need the Federal or State government coming into our communities taking guns from law-abiding folks. I’m going to stand up for my district and vote to protect our Second Amendment rights each and every time.”
