(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - GOP Candidate for Illinois Governor Darren Bailey is calling for a special session of the legislature to deal with gun violence, and blaming the Pritzker administration for not preventing Highland Park Parade attack.
At a Thursday news conference, Bailey again apologized for telling supporters to “move on” and celebrate Independence Day just 90 minutes after the deadly Highland Park Parade attack.
Then he said lawmakers should meet in a special session to discuss anti-violence measures and mental health programs.
“We must do whatever it takes to address the breakdown in mental health, particularly among isolated young men, which was made immeasurably worse during Pritzker’s lockdown,” said Bailey.
He pointed an accusatory finger at Governor Pritzker.
“The Illinois Firearm Restraining Act is on the books and it should have been used. The Highland Park shooter was posting violent videos with an intent to attack. The shooter could have been stopped and would have been stopped if Governor Pritzker and the government were living up to their true duty to protect the innocent,” Bailey said.
State Police said the law didn’t help because the suspect’s father supported him buying weapons. Bailey called for more mental health programs.
The Pritzker campaign said Bailey opposed those mental health programs when he voted against four of the governor’s budgets. The challenger begs to differ. He said there's enough spending in the budget. The State just needs to better "prioritize."
Pritzker’s campaign has also issued statements saying Bailey opposed strengthening the Firearm Owners ID (FOID) program. Bailey, in fact, wants to abolish the FOID program, saying it does no good, since there are federal background check laws.
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