Home Rule Municipalities Urged to Consider Restrictions on Assault Weapons

The Gun Violence Taskforce of Social Justice Committee of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry urged four home rule municipalities in McHenry County, to consider banning assault weapons before a deadline is imposed by newly-passed state gun legislation.

In a bill recently passed by both the Illinois House and Senate, local municipalities with home-rule power will have up to 10 days after the Governor signs it into law to enact a ban and after that will be prohibited.

A letter co-signed by the congregation’s Social Justice Committee chair Patrick Murfin and Gun Violence Task Force chair the Rev. Dan Larsen asserted, “These are the types of guns that have been used in mass killings throughout our country, like the murder of students and teacher in Newtown, Connecticut.  These are weapons designed to kill people efficiently, not for hunting, target practice, or self-defense and should only be in the hands of the military and police.”   

The letters were mailed to McHenry Mayor Susan Low, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepply, Lake in the Hills Village President Paul Mulcahy, and Prairie Grove Village President Stanley Duda.

Cities …“ought to at least give their own citizens an opportunity to express their views. There are people with strongly-held views on both sides of this issue who deserve to be heard,” the letters said. “Local officials should know how everyone feels before they act or fail to act.”

These municipalities were urged to contact their own legal counsel immediately to review their options.