Manzullo Fights Against Gun Control

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) continues his fight against increasing gun control legislation.

Manzullo spoke out March 2 and urged Illinois leaders to oppose gun control legislation, which he says is working its way through the Illinois General Assembly.

The Congressman wrote a letter to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-IL) and Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-IL), which called on the leaders to oppose legislation that would ban and increase penalties on semi-automatic firearms (HB 1294 and HB 1599), impose a 2 percent tax on ammunition (HB 5167) and create a firearms registry supported by a new fee (HB 5831).

The letter in its entirety is attached to this article.

“Illinois already has some of the nation’s strictest firearms laws, including a requirement for gun owners to possess the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card," Manzullo said. "These bills are nothing but an assault on the constitutionally-protected right to bear arms. I respectfully urge you to not adopt these bills but instead to work towards passage of viable conceal-carry legislation for all of Illinois.”

Manzullo co-signed a letter last summer authored by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) encouraging Illinois officials to enact a conceal-carry firearms law.

“The United States Supreme Court affirmed in McDonald vs. Chicago that states cannot violate an individual’s right to bear arms for lawful purposes under the Second Amendment,” Manzullo said. “There is no evidence that gun registration does anything to keep illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals. Banning semi-automatic firearms, which are used in the biathlon competition in the Winter Olympics, and adding a $65 firearms tax, a 2 percent ammunition tax and a gun registry only punishes law abiding citizens.”

While lawmakers decide on what bills to move forward on, the Straight Shooters Gallery in is preparing to open in June.

The shooting range, approved by the Crystal Lake City Council in November 2011, has been a major concern of residents living nearby. But similar ranges in other communities haven't had the problems Crystal Lake residents have brought up.