UPDATE x1: The Illinois House rejected Amendment 10 on HB 1156, which would have banned any high capacity magazines over 10 rounds. The vote was 57 to 59, with 1 present. Roll call will follow.
SPRINGFIELD - State Rep. Mike Zalewski answered one question after another on the House floor Wednesday about his amendment #10 to HB 1156, which would ban any high capacity magazines with more than 10 rounds.
Zalewski said that as in New York, ammunition owners had a full year to rid themselves of the high capacity magazines his amendment would have made illegal in Illinois.
"There can be no grandfather clause on this," he said to those requesting an amendment, "because there are no identity numbers on these clips." If he allowed grandfathering the magazines, he said he would lose votes from those from which he had already garnered support.
Among those Republicans that spoke in opposition to Zalewski's proposal were State Reps Mike Bost, David Harris, David Reis, Ed Sullivan, Jeanne Ives, Dwight Kay, Dennis Reboletti and Jim Sacia. Democrat State Rep. Mike Smiddy said that a weapons manufacturer in his district would be adversely affected by the clip limit.
"This is not a threat, but if you do this to the good citizens of this state, you know its going to increase the sales of these magazines," Rep Sacia said. "Don't do this, Representative, this is bad, bad legislation."
"Week 3 of the gun saga continues," State Rep. Reboletti said as he closed his comments opposing the amendment.
Because of the amendment wording, the weapons that hold these magazines would also be banned, State Democrat Rep. Brandon Phelps said in debate. "You say you're looking out for hunters, if you are, vote no."
GOP State Rep. Reis went further, forecasting a possible need for body bags. "If you pass this, there will be riots on the streets. You can't take guns from people."
"After all the talk, there's nothing that's been said today that would incline me to change the wording," Zalewski said. "I will not pull this amendment."
The House rejected Zalewski's amendment in a 57 to 59 vote, with one present.
