Assault Weapons Banned in Homewood

Homewood's Village Board swiftly passed a ban on assault weapons only hours after the General Assembly legalized concealed carry.

The board unanimously approved the ordinance during Tuesday’s meeting—which Trustee Anne Colton called "a barn-burner" in reference to impassioned discussion from both sides of the issue.

While opponents of the ban argued the issue was being "rushed through" the board, Tuesday’s concealed carry passage mandates all communities without assault weapon bans (such as Homewood) who want to enact them are required to do so within 10 days, reports the Huffington Post. If the board hadn’t passed the ordinance on July 9, it would have been too late by the next board meeting on July 23.

"We were backed into a corner by the state of Illinois," Colton said. "I know we got them [residents] angry, but if we didn’t do this now, we would never be able to have this conversation. 

"Many communities tabled it." 

“Hopefully, people are like-minded and understand assault weapons are meant for killing people and they don’t have a place in our town,” Mayor Richard Hofeld told the Sun-Times Media before the meeting. 

Under the ban, Homewood residents will have 90 days to dispose of any operating assault weapons within village limits. A $100 to $750 fee is in store for anyone who does not comply.

Colton welcomed the possibility of further discussion of the ban—including possible revision of the definition of "assault weapon." 

"We need to have that discussion," she said. "...when a community comes together and has a civil discussion, that's what democracy is about. 

"Do I think we need assault weapons in Homewood? No. I don't. Assault weapons are meant to kill people." 

Homewood joins several other communities, including Highland Park, North Chicago, Melrose Park, and Skokie, that already regulate possession or sale and transfer of illegal weapons, according to research compiled by the Illinois House Democrats' staff. As of July 5, 14 communities had rejected or decided not to act on proposed bans; 10 had yet to vote or had tabled the issue. 

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