Hirschauer Sends Assault Weapons Ban to Governor

UPDATE: Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Banning Assault Weapons and Sale of High-Capacity Magazines

Original release, Jan 6, 2023
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — After months of negotiation and advocacy, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, helped pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act Tuesday. The bill now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk for signature.

“Gun violence touches all corners of our state, from urban centers to rural towns and everywhere in between. For far too long, we’ve let these weapons of war roam our streets and enact unspeakable violence against innocent people,” Hirschauer said. “Today, the Illinois General Assembly said no more. No more senseless violence. No more assault weapons. Though this ban cannot bring back those whose lives were lost to gun violence, the bill we passed today will undoubtedly save many lives and prevent unspeakable tragedy for generations to come,”

The Protect Illinois Communities Act is the culmination of months of negotiation among advocates, survivor groups, the Senate and the Governor. The proposal will ban the sale of weapons such as assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, and rapid-fire modifications that make semiautomatic weapons function like automatic weapons. The bill also creates a state police anti-trafficking unit to collaborate with federal law enforcement agencies to combat the flow of illegal guns across state lines, and expands and strengthens Illinois’ red flag law.

“I am immensely proud of my colleagues in both chambers for standing up for the safety and wellbeing of Illinois families and communities,” Hirschauer said. “But today’s action will not and can not be the end of our work to prevent gun violence. We have a long road to go to keep guns off our streets and protect those we hold dear. Today we celebrate. Tomorrow, we get back to work.”

For more information on Hirschauer’s legislative agenda, please visit www.ilga.gov.