Martwick supports limiting access to assault weapons

SPRINGFIELD — Just six months after a gunman opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park – killing seven and injuring dozens more – State Senator Robert Martwick voted in support of banning assault weapons in Illinois.

“The never ending cycle of mass shootings perpetuated by assault weapons makes it clear these weapons of war do not belong on our streets,” said Martwick (D-Chicago). “Illinois needs to ban the future sale of assault weapons to keep our children safe, and to keep firearms designed for combat out of the hands of individuals who would misuse them.”

In response to the Highland Park shooting and other mass shootings across the nation, Martwick supported House Bill 5471. The measure bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being manufactured or sold in Illinois.

The 4th of July shooting punctuated a six-week period in which mass shooters using semi-automatic weapons killed more than 40 people in Buffalo, Uvalde, Texas, Tulsa and Highland Park combined.

Studies show that approximately one-third of public mass shooting events include the use of an assault weapon, and nearly 40% involve a high-capacity magazine. When an assault weapon and/or a high-capacity magazine is used in a public mass shooting, nearly 14 times as many people are injured, and twice as many people are killed. Not only are there more injuries when assault weapons are used, but the types of injuries are far worse.

“This well-crafted bill is correctly balanced to ensure our law enforcement still has access to the tools they need,” said Martwick.

House Bill 5471 passed the Senate Monday and will head to the House for further consideration.