Statement from Governor Pat Quinn Regarding Legislation to Ban Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines

SPRINGFIELD - January 2, 2013. Governor Quinn issued the following statement on today's vote by the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois.

"I am very pleased to see the Senate's Public Health Committee take this important step today to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois.

"Following the horrific Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre that left 12 dead, I proposed a statewide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines to best protect the people of Illinois.

"As I have repeatedly made clear, there is no place in Illinois for weapons designed to rapidly fire at human targets at close range.

"Today's vote is a good sign that we are making progress as we continue to build a majority in the General Assembly.

"I want to thank Senator Tony Munoz, Senator Dan Kotowski and Senator William Delgado for their leadership and partnership to get this done. I urge the Senate to take up this matter quickly.