For Immediate Release
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Media Contact:
Valerie Jean-Charles
[email protected]
G-PAC, BRADY, GIFFORDS RESPOND TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER’S STATEMENT ON ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN BILL, IMPLORES LEGISLATURE TO PASS BILL DURING EARLY JANUARY SESSION
CHICAGO — Today, the Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC), Brady, and Giffords released the following statements in response to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s recent comments on the potential passage of newly introduced legislation that would ban assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines in the state.
“We are pleased to hear that Governor Pritzker is in full support of life-saving legislation that our state is in desperate need of,” said Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of G-PAC. “However, it is critical for us to remember that change can’t wait. So far, Illinois has experienced more than 50 mass shootings this year, and these tragedies disproportionately affect Black and brown communities. Additionally, firearms remain the leading cause of death for children in Illinois. It is our duty to protect those most affected by this man-made epidemic. Too many lives are on the line, and we simply cannot wait for these overdue policies to be passed and signed into law this summer — a time of year we know gun violence tends to spike in Illinois. G-PAC calls on our state legislature to step up to the plate, do their job and help keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Earlier this year, G-PAC launched the #HaltTheAssault campaign, an initiative aiming to bolster legislative support for a state-wide ban of assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois, with support from One Aim Illinois, Giffords, Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and the statewide Our One Job Coalition representing 200+ organizations partnering to end death and injury by firearms.
“Weapons of war have no place in any of our communities,” said Brady President Kris Brown. “In the hands of civilians, military style weapons endanger Illinois’ streets, stores, restaurants, places of worship, music venues, schools, movie theaters, and communities at large, as we saw in the tragic shooting at Highland Park this year. Illinois has been a consistent leader on gun laws, and has some of the strongest gun laws in the country; an assault weapons ban would go even further to protect families and communities. We have the power to prevent these uniquely American tragedies, and banning assault weapons will be critical to accomplishing that goal. Brady urges the Legislature to pass these bans as soon as possible and make safety from senseless gun violence a reality for the citizens of Illinois.”
“Giffords is proud to join Governor Pritzker’s call for immediate passage of an assault weapons ban,” said Sean Holihan, state legislative director for Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. “Illinois voters went to the polls in November with gun violence as one of their top issues, asking their leaders to enact sensible laws that will save lives. Those leaders now have to act to make communities across Illinois safer.”
About Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC)
The Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee (G-PAC) is the state’s leading gun violence advocacy organization. It was founded in 2013 to counter the political influence of the gun industry and their lobby in Springfield.