Officials in Chicago suburb approve ordinance to ban assault weapons

by Rebecca Savransky - 04/05/18 10:28 AM ET

Officials in a Chicago suburb this week approved an ordinance to ban assault weapons.

The ordinance — approved unanimously by officials in Deerfield, Ill. — bans the the possession, manufacture or sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, according to The Washington post.

People who live within Deerfield’s borders will be required to remove their guns by June 13. Those who do not remove their guns from within the village’s borders by that point will receive fines of up to $1,000 per day.

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The ban includes semiautomatic rifles, semiautomatic shotguns and semiautomatic pistols with detachable magazines that can hold 10 or more rounds of ammunition.

The ordinance, which also names specific models of guns including the AR-15, says these types of weapons are “dangerous and unusual,” according to the Post.

Officials in Deerfield decided to discuss the proposal after the February shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead and a number of others injured.

“We hope that our local decision helps spur state and national leaders to take steps to make our communities safer,” Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal said in a statement.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) came out against the new ordinance.

“Every law-abiding villager of Deerfield has the right to protect themselves, their homes, and their loved ones with the firearm that best suits their needs,” Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA’s lobbying arm, said in a statement.

The gun rights group, Guns Save Life, also threatened to sue.

The ban comes as gun control has become a central issue nationwide following the Parkland shooting.

Students who survived the shooting have become vocal advocates for gun control, demanding that lawmakers pass new laws to keep their communities safe.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched last month in cities across the country to protest gun violence and demand action.

Students also warned lawmakers they would be voted out of office if they didn’t take action on gun control.

Tags Chicago Gun control Illinois NRA