Gun rights advocates say assault weapons ban is unconstitutional — local officials say it’s essential

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart holds up high-capacity ammunition magazines as he testifies in support of the state’s proposed assault weapons ban at a meeting of the Illinois House Judiciary Criminal Committee at the Bilandic Building in the Loop on Tuesday. (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times)

Opponents of a measure that would ban assault weapons and stop the sale of high-capacity magazines came to an Illinois House hearing on Tuesday equipped to fight for the constitutional rights of gun owners — while local law enforcement officials urged lawmakers to stem the flow of military-style weapons they say are ravaging the state.

The two sides delivered more than five hours of testimony before the Illinois House Judiciary Committee — the third hearing lawmakers held this month in advance of an assault weapons ban Democrats hope to pass in the January lame duck session. Gun safety advocates from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America packed the committee hearing, often cheering for those advocating for the ban. But there was also applause following testimony from gun-rights lobbyists, who took up a large portion of the final hearing of the year.