Assault Weapons Ban Voted Down in Clarendon Hills

Clarendon Hills trustees voted down a proposed assault weapons ban Monday night in front of a full house in the Village Hall boardroom.

The deadline to approve such assault weapon regulations, according to the state’s new concealed carry law, is July 19, meaning Monday night was the only chance the Clarendon Hills Village Board had to take the step.

Trustees Don Knoll, Paul Flood, Ed Reid and Eric Stach voted against the ordinance. Village President Tom Karaba and trustee Paul Pedersen voted for it.

Steve Wallace was absent.

Because it was being considered on short notice without a first consideration, the ordinance would have needed a two-thirds vote of the full board to be approved, or five of seven trustees.

Knoll said he did not believe the ordinance was in front of trustees because there was a public safety issue that needed to be addressed. 

"I think it’s because of the timing of the laws and the way the politics work that we were put in this situation," Knoll said. "I don’t know that this is a discussion that is appropriate for a small village the size of Clarendon Hills and I don’t see any of our neighboring communities moving forward with this."

According to the proposed local ordinance language, the Clarendon Hills assault weapons regulations would have gone into effect on July 1, 2014, giving the village board and community time to discuss and provide input on weapons regulations without missing the upcoming deadline.

Karaba and Pedersen said they supported the ordinance because it's the only way the community can have more time to debate the issue.

"It’s a serous issue," Pedersen said. "I’m an elected official of this village and I don’t want to be forced into making a decision within four or five days just because I live in a dysfunctional state."

Karaba said after the ordinance was voted down, "It’s really simple. I just wanted to have more time to consider it."

Reid saw it differently. The trustee said not only does he believe the board should not be taking up a measure that has constitutional questions and would turn certain law-abiding citizens into criminals if they moved to Clarendon Hills from another town, but the ordinance would put the onus on the board to reinstate a constitutional right. 

"Should this board vote for this ordinance and do nothing in the coming year, we have an assault weapons then," Reid said. "That is a distinction not to be dismissed." 

The boardroom was packed with folks interested in the item Monday night, and numerous residents spoke against implementing a ban for reasons including constitutional questionability, the problems caused by patchwork weapons regulations across the state, and the lack of an assault weapons problem in Clarendon Hills according to Clarendon Hills Police Chief Ted Jenkins, who voiced that belief Monday.

Tom Cooper said he had issues with the maximum penalties written into the ordinance, which are six months in a penal institution and a $750 fine. 

"You’re giving residents, if this ordinance is approved, the choice of moving, selling their guns, or risking imprisonment," Cooper said. "Is that something that the board really wants to consider and do?"

No audience members Monday publicly spoke in support of the ordinance.

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