Governor Rauner Shows Political Courage in Illinois

Jeanne Ives and Governor Bruce Rauner

It isn't often that you see political courage shown in Illinois. Illinois is a deep blue state that has very restrictive gun control laws. Chicago politicians are all to eager to curry favor with the national media and to go-along to get-along with the anti-Second Amendment agenda. Illinois politics is dominated by Chicago.

Governor Bruce Rauner went against the flow and the enormous power wielded by the network media. He vetoed an expensive and ineffective bill, SB 1657, designed to make gun sales more difficult in Illinois, at least for small dealers.  From chicagotribune.com:

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have required the state to license and regulate gun shops, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats who contended the decision was designed to appeal to conservative voters ahead of next week’s primary election.

Rauner called the proposal “duplicative” because the federal government already licenses firearms retailers. He said adding another layer of oversight would be costly for businesses and “do little to improve public safety.” Lawmakers approved the plan a couple of weeks ago in the wake of the killing of Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer and the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla.

“The core issue is not which guns to legally ban or regulate,” Rauner said in his veto message to lawmakers. “We have ample proof that such narrowly focused legislative responses make for good political cover. But they do little to stop the illegal flow of guns into Illinois or prevent people from committing thousands of crimes in our state each year with illegal guns.”

The legislature seems unlikely to be able to override the veto, even in the face of the pressure being applied by the dominant media.  In the Senate, 36 votes would be needed to override the Governor, only 30 were in favor when the bill was passed. In the House, 71 votes would be needed, only 64 voted for the measure.

The bill is full of special interest cut-outs and requirements that amount to harassment of gun sellers. Big box stores would be exempt, and licenses would be up to a thousand dollars every five years. Every purchase would have to be video recorded, and the video stored.  The additional expenses and requirements would likely put many small retailers out of business. All gun retailers are already required to be licensed by the federal government.

The bill was originally seen as a means for  Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms to obtain an exemption for their companies in exchange for supporting the bill.

Once this was exposed, Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms recanted and opposed the bill. But it had already passed the Senate by one vote. In Illinois, 30 votes are required in the Senate to advance a bill.

Governor Rauner is facing a primary challenge from a more conservative candidate, Jeanne Ives. He has been criticized for his leaning to the left on social issues. Jeanne Ives is making a strong challenge to Bruce Rauner. Governor Rauner has not shown support for President Trump.

Illinois Carry has expressed support for Governor Rauner.

After a full court press, all hands on deck, Katie bar the door effort by the anti Second Amendment legislators in Chicago, Governor Rauner, with a stroke of his pen, has undone the heinous firearm dealer licensing bill.


We've been working with the Governor and his staff from day one for just a time as this. IllinoisCarry has taken him at his word and with this, the worst gun bill to hit an Illinois governor's desk in decades, he has proven his mettle.


IllinoisCarry extends our sincere thanks to the Governor, and to our members who supported him while considering this difficult, but well reasoned, decision.

Governor Rauner's veto means the restrictive state licensing of gun dealers in Illinois is dead for this legislative session.


©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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