A bi-partisan downstate coalition is forming as new glaring differences between Chicago and the rest of Illinois are surfacing.  Current pending legislation in Springfield from Chicago Representative Edward Acevedo would take high caliber shotguns and ammo out of the hands of Illinois hunters, something that Representative Chapin Rose says cannot happen.
The Bills in question are HB1924, 1599 and 1855.   Among other things, the bills revokation of a FOID card for not reporting a stolen or lost gun within 72 hours and felony charges for not having proof of ownership if found with high caliber guns or reporting transfers or sales of such.  Perhaps most importantly, increased penalties for possessing a semi automatic assault weapons and "high capacity ammunition".  It's not clearly defined what time of ammunition the bill refers to.  It would also essentially ban shotguns with certain types of magazines and magazine capacities.
“Forget the Second Amendment problems with that, hunting is a huge economic boom for downstate Illinois,” says Rose.  “If these bills were to pass, shotguns would be banned, and hunting as we know it would be over with.”
“There are millions upon millions of dollars every year spent in downstate Illinois related to hunting.  Think about all the sportsmen you know.  Think about all the sports shops you drive by.  How many people would be put out of work if these silly bills were to pass?”
Representative Rose is joined by Representatives Bill Mitchell, Adam Brown and Brandon Phelps in a downstate coalition to keep such legislation out of Chicago from dictating life downstate.  See more on these proposed bills, CLICK HERE