Naperville will prohibit the sale of “assault rifles” in the city effective Jan. 1.
After listening to four hours of passionate pleas from more than 100 speakers, the Naperville City Council voted 8-1 in the early morning hours Wednesday to amend city code to prohibit the sale of weapons similar to those used in recent mass shootings in Highland Park; Uvalde, Texas; and Buffalo, New York.
Many opponents to the proposed change urged the council to instead put more money toward mental health services and school security.
Mayor Steve Chirico said there are many different means to address the problem, including mental health, background checks, red flag laws, education training and possible delays in acquiring a weapon.
“I think access to these types of weapons for certain individuals is one of those things for me,” Chirico said.
“Clearly what’s happening in our country right now is not acceptable … and so we’ve got to take some action. We’ve got to do something to try to take some steps toward curtailing,” he said.
Others argued Naperville’s proposal carried little weight because people will go elsewhere, as was the case in Highland Park.
Councilman Patrick Kelly said the tragedy in Highland Park demonstrates other communities have not done their part.
“I hope that our city can be part of the solution for a very difficult problem that will not be solved overnight. But I genuinely hope that we can make a difference in our community,” Kelly said.
The measure was a way for Naperville to take a stand, according to Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan.
She said the ordinance needs to send a message: “We don’t want to contribute to the atrocities.”
Councilman Paul Hinterlong, who cast the lone no vote on the ban, questioned how the city would enforce the law and who will pay the bill if there are lawsuits.
City attorney Michael DiSanto answered that question at a previous meeting, saying the same law firm that represented Highland Park and Deerfield in their assault weapon ordinances has notified the city that it would represent Naperville free of charge were there any legal challenges.
Councilwoman Jennifer Bruzan Taylor said she is a gun owner and believes in the Second Amendment, but “that right is not limitless.”
Taylor said her vote reflects what the community was telling the council.
Councilman Benny White said Naperville has always been a leader, and it’s time to do it again.
The amendment would apply to Naperville’s two gun stores, Range USA Naperville on Frontenac Court and Law Weapons & Supply on North Aurora Road, and to any licensed firearms dealers in the city. Private transfers and private sales are not affected.
Councilman Paul Leong said that after listening to concerns raised at the July 19 meeting, the council offered a compromise that focuses on rifles and removes restrictions on handguns.
At the July meeting, Robert Bevis, owner of Law Weapons and Supply, took issue with the ban including standard firearms, including certain pistols.
The regulation of handguns and large-capacity magazines would have a significant negative effect on commercial sales of the most common semi-automatic handguns.
On Tuesday, Bevis reiterated that his business will be harmed.
In the revised ordinance, references to large-capacity magazines were removed since that regulation was intended for handguns and because the remaining prohibition on the sale of “assault rifles” will encompass rifles with large-capacity magazines.
In addition, exceptions were included for purchases by local, state or federal law enforcement officers and agencies as well as U.S. military agencies.
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