Morton Grove Praised For Passing Compromise Assault Weapons Law

It's not easy getting supporters and critics of gun laws to agree.

That much was clear to the Morton Grove village board after more than a dozen pro- and anti- gun speakers paraded to the podium at a town hall meeting Monday and a special meeting Wednesday.

In the end, though, people on both sides of the issue had praise, some forthright and some reluctant, for the village for writing, and on Thursday night passing, an ordinance they saw as a compromise.

Don Szachowicz,who at the Monday meeting told the board that he was a deer hunter and expressed concerns that an assault weapons band would unfairly penalize hunters and sport shooters, praised the trustees and Mayor Dan DiMaria for crafting the ordinance he saw as a good compromise. 

"I'm complimenting the village attorney and everybody who put in input to achieve a compromise acceptable to both sides," he said.   

He saluted them for offering citizens the right to speak in a town hall meeting, and suggested they gained new insight by listening to law-abiding sport shooters and hunters talk about their shooting hobbies. 

Referring to some criticism the board took Monday night, he said, "You saw they took some of the abuse; they were really nice and acted professionally and courteously."

Earlier: Morton Grove board tries to reach compromise

The compromise the board came up with prohibits firearms with 31 or more rounds; Szachowicz said that allowed sportsmen to have a popular model which carries 30 rounds. He also said that it allowed for accessories, such as a grip which would make the gun more comfortable for a sportsman to hold. 

"Look at the warmth you see in this room," he said, adding that the Morton Grove residents there respected each others' viewpoints and shared camaraderie.

On Wednesday, former Morton Grove trustee Georgianne Brunner, who had urged the board to adopt an assault weapons ban, also praised the mayor and board for coming up with a compromise. 

"I want to commend you guys for coming up with something," she said at the board's special meeting on the issue. 

"I would prefer a complete ban but I know that’s not possible in this day and age. I appreciate all the effort you put into this and I urge you to pass this."

Even Joel Siegel of Lincolnwood, who said his group Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership does not accept any gun bans or restrictions, said Morton Grove "probably reached a compromise which may be acceptable to their residents.

"But we don't like any gun laws. We feel the Second Amendment is sacrosanct."