Politics & Government
Flossmoor Shoots Down Possible Assault Weapons Ban
Village board members mulled moving forward with a ban on assault weapons, but ultimately decided the "symbolic gesture" was not worth the expenditure of taxpayer dollars in a village that, to date, has not seen use of such weapons.
Assault weapons will not be banned in Flossmoor.
Village board members Monday decided against pursuing an ordinance outlawing certain guns, pistols and shotguns within village limits, Mayor Paul Braun said. The board's discussion centered not around members' personal sentiments, but instead around the uncertainty of their authority to adopt such a ban.
The state's newly passed concealed carry legislation gives home-rule communities until July 19 to ban assault weapons within their boundaries. Homewood is among just three Southland communities that have, along with Hazel Crest and Calumet Park.
The legislation is simply not clear on whether non-home rule communities like Flossmoor have the authority, Braun said.
"We came to the decision not to move forward with the ban," Braun said. "If state legislators intended municipalities to have that authority, they should explicitly state that."
To date, he said, Flossmoor has not seen any use of assault weapons. Moving forward with the possibility of the ban would have meant an additional, special meeting and legal research.
"We didn't think passing such an ordinance as a symbolic gesture was worth spending taxpayer dollars," Braun said.
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