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Statements of Mayor Nancy R. Rotering Regarding the Passage and Signing of the Protect Illinois Communities Act

Statement of Mayor Nancy R. Rotering Regarding the Signing of the Protect Illinois Communities Act

Highland Park, Illinois – Today marks another milestone in our journey forward as a community and as a state. Thank you to Governor JB Pritzker for signing the Assault Weapons Ban – Protect Illinois Communities Act. This bill will help to reduce the carnage, diminish the fear, and alleviate the suffering of Illinoisans. Thousands of Illinois residents reached out to lawmakers in Springfield in support of an assault weapons ban. We, the people, appreciate that you listened to our cry for help. 

While there is more work to be done, the signing of this bill sends a message to the Federal government that it is time to take common sense steps to preserve our public’s safety, health, and human rights. Terrorism has no home in our country. 



Statement of Mayor Nancy R. Rotering Regarding the Passage of the Protect Illinois Communities Act

January 10, 2023 – As we continue to mourn the horrific aftermath of last year’s mass shooting in Highland Park and the gun violence losses in so many other Illinois towns and cities, we applaud the sponsors of the assault weapons ban and all ILGA members who took action to save lives, making Illinois the 9th state to ban assault weapons.

Banning assault weapons has proven to be effective at curbing gun violence, as shown by the ten-year Federal Assault Weapons ban that expired in 2004. While we know that no town or county is an island and appreciate that this state-wide ban will make it that much harder for someone with horrible intentions to obtain a combat weapon, neither is a state. This important step taken by our IL legislators sends a clear message to other states and the Federal government that we need continued bold action to address mass shootings across our nation. We urge them to continue their work towards protecting all Americans’ rights to live free from fear of gun violence. 

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