SPRINGFIELD – Just six months after a gunman opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in nearby Highland Park – killing seven and injuring dozens more – State Senator Laura Murphy voted in support of banning assault weapons in Illinois.

“I have always supported commonsense gun laws aimed at keeping dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “By banning the future sale of assault weapons, Illinois takes a step forward in preventing further gun-related violence which threatens our most fundamental human right, the right to life.”

In response to the Highland Park shooting and other mass shootings across the nation, Murphy supported Senate Bill 5471. The measure bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines from being sold in Illinois.
The 4th of July shooting punctuated a six-week period in which mass shooters using semi-automatic weapons killed more than 40 people in Buffalo, Uvalde, Texas, Tulsa and Highland Park combined.

Studies show that approximately one-third of public mass shooting events include the use of an assault weapon, and nearly 40% involve a high-capacity magazine. When an assault weapon and/or a high-capacity magazine is used in a public mass shooting, nearly 14 times as many people are injured, and twice as many people are killed. Not only are there more injuries when assault weapons are used, but the types of injuries are far worse.

“We know that no amount of regulation can ensure we prevent these senseless killings, but each time we limit the ability for a dangerous person to access a firearm, we potentially save a life,” said Murphy. “In addition, the measure protects the rights of every law-abiding gun owner.”

House Bill 5471passed the Senate Monday and will head to the House for further consideration.