Assault weapons ban fails to reach a vote in Springfield

ROCKFORD - Illinois State senators will not vote on a proposed assault weapons ban during this lame duck session.  When it passed out of a committee the bill was largely considered to broad, and today lawmakers decided not to put the bill on the floor fearing there wasn't enough support.

"What this is, is feel good legislation so the politicians can say that they're doing something to combat gun violence," said owner of Forest City Firearms Eric Sonnenberg.

The latest bill sought to ban the manufacturing and sale of most semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shot guns.  As well as limit the magazine capacity for all guns in Illinois to 10 rounds.

A bill senator Dave Syverson says targets law abiding people.  "Making them overly regulated is not going to improve the crime situation," said Syverson.  

Winnebago County Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro says officers in the Stateline routinely encounter semi-automatic handguns with large capacity magazines.

"The semi-automatic hand guns are certainly the weapon of choice among criminals on the street," said Iasparro.

Iasparro says police don't take the potential threat lightly.  "The risk for law enforcement is extreme," said Iasparro.  "Many of these weapons will penetrate ballistic vests."

A Glock handgun is typically fitted with a magazine that can hold 17 rounds, but it can also be fitted with a magazine that can hold 33 rounds, both would be outlawed if the bill becomes a law.

"But even then, we're not sure if it's something that's going to have any impact," said Syverson.  

Eric Sonnenberg, who has owner of Forest City Firearms for 9 years, says if the ban on semi-automatic weapons eventually gets passed it could wipe out nearly all of his business.

"That accounts for probably 75 to 80 percent of my business," said Sonnenberg.

Nor does he think it would do anything to stop criminals from using those types of guns.

"They're not going to obey those laws anyway," said Sonnenberg.

Sonnenberg says guns sales have been at record highs since lawmakers in Springfield and Washington D.C. have begun to push anti-gun legislation.

Senator Syverson thinks lawmakers will likely revisit the bill this coming spring.