Morton Grove To Vote On Assault Weapons Ban Thursday

After the Illinois General Assembly on Monday made it the law of the land to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons, the Morton Grove village board plans to jolt into action to consider placing further restrictions on guns in Morton Grove.

The law gives home-rule communities such as Morton Grove 10 days--or until July 19--to restrict the law, such as by adding an assault weapons ban. 

The Morton Grove village board will vote on the issue Thursday, July 18, Mayor Dan DiMaria said on Thursday, July 11. That will be preceded by a town hall meeting to hear residents' views on the issue.

"You know I'm big on town hall meetings," he said.

The town hall meeting will take place Monday July 15, according to the Morton Grove Champion. 

The General Assembly passed House Bill 183, which permits concealed carry under certain conditions, at the end of May, in order to comply with a federal appeals court ruling which said Illinois, the last state in the country to forbid concealed carry, must end that practice because it conflicts with the Second Amendment. The court gave Gov. Pat Quinn until July 9 to sign it. Quinn sent the bill back to the legislature with an amendatory veto, demanding further restrictions, but both the House and Senate overrode his veto on Monday.

Skokie passed an assault weapons ban; Niles already had one on the books. Other communities, such as Wilmette and Northbrook, took no action.
 
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