An Illinois state lawmaker, during a town hall over a proposed ban on semiautomatic weapons, responded to a gun owner's questions about the bill by threatening to change the bill to call for outright confiscation of previously legally-obtained firearms, according to a video posted by the Illinois State Rifle Association.

The discussion was about Senate Bill 107, which would ban future purchases of semiautomatic guns and require those who keep previously purchased semiautomatics to pay a fine and register the weapon.

During the town hall, state Sen. Julie Morrison was faced with a valid line of questioning from a gun owner who would be impacted by the bill: If the guns are safe enough to allow some people to keep them with a fine, why would they need to be banned at all?

"You want me to turn them over to the state police unless I pay a fine for each firearm and register them, then I get to keep them. If I get to keep it — if I pay a fine and register it — then how dangerous is it in the first place and why do you need to ban it at all?" the gun owner asked.



His question brought applause from the other attendees, and after thinking about it for a moment, Morrison took things the opposite direction.

"Well, you just maybe changed my mind," Morrison replied. "Maybe we won't have a fine at all, maybe it'll just be a confiscation and we won't have to worry about paying the fine." Watch the exchange below:

Sen Morrison Townhall 06112019 www.youtube.com

Senate Bill 107 currently being considered in the state Assembly, would make it a class 3 felony for first offense and class 2 felony for future offenses for a person who knowingly delivers, sells, purchases or possesses an "assault weapon" in violation of the bill.



(H/T Breitbart)