Mayor Pushes Assault Weapon Ban

Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal vowed at today’s Village Board of Trustees meeting the legislative body will vote on an assault weapons ban within the time frame allowed by the state’s conceal carry legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly Friday.

“As a home rule community we can ban assault weapons,” Rosenthal said at the conclusion of today’s meeting. “We have until 10 days after the governor signs the bill. I want it to be put on the agenda for our next (June 17) meeting.”

Several trustees wanted to make sure an assault weapons ban would be put to a vote if Gov. Patrick Quinn signs the bill more than 10 days before the June 17 meeting. “Will we call a special meeting?” Trustee William Seiden said.

“Correct,” Rosenthal answered. “It’s on my radar.” Village Attorney Peter Colbentz said a special meeting of the Board can be scheduled with a 48-hour notice.

The legislation passed Friday by the Illinois General Assembly allows Chicago to keep its assault weapons ban and allows other home rule communities to pass the legislation prohibiting them before the state’s new provisions take effect, according to an article in the Huffington Post.

The Village would have to act within 10 days of the time Gov. Quinn signs the bill, according to Colbentz. Rosenthal made it clear she does not want to see assault weapons in Deerfield. “I cannot think of one reason to have assault weapons,” she said.

In other action, the Board approved a reports leading to the presentation of an ordinance at its next meeting to allow a healthy food restaurant at 789 Saunders Road and another allowing increased Sunday school capacity at Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim.

Patch will have more detailed stories on these and other issues later in the week.

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