(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Governor J.B. Pritzker, along with Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering are expected to attend today’s “celebration” at the White House of a new bi-partisan gun measure.
President Biden signed the bill into law on June 25, but today will be the official signing ceremony. Although seen by many critics as being limited in stature, The Safers Community Act will strengthen background checks for weapon purchases as well as provide billions of dollars in funding for added mental health programs.
A week after the Highland Park massacre, Governor Pritzker is among those calling for the president and legislators to do more. He appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” program on Sunday and said instead of focusing on red flag laws, assault-style rifles like the one used on July 4 in Highland Park should be banned altogether.
“....We need to ban assault weapons, not just in the state of Illinois, but nationally…Why do civilians need this? The name of the weapon that this shooter was using was the Smith & Wesson M&P 15. You know what M&P stands for- military and police-, and that’s who perhaps should have those weapons, not civilians being able to just walk in and buy one,” Pritzker said.
White House officials said Biden doesn't see the passage of the bill as the finish line, but rather a foundation that needs to be built on.
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“I recently signed the first major bipartisan gun reform legislation in almost 30 years into law, which includes actions that will save lives,” Biden said after the Highland Park shooting. “But there is much more work to do, and I’m not going to give up fighting the epidemic of gun violence.”
Today Biden is expected to reiterate his call for those tougher measures, but prospects are slim for any further congressional action.
The Associated Press contributed
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