Illinois town bans assault weapons, will fine those who keep them

The town of Deerfield, Ill., has moved to ban assault weapons, including the AR-15 used in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, claiming the measure will make the town more safe from mass shootings.

The ordinance was passed unanimously Monday by the Deerfield Village Board. It states the move is in the best interest of public health and will spur a culture change toward "the normative value that assault weapons should have no role or purpose in civil society."

It also takes a swing at a popular reading of the Second Amendment, stating the weapons are "not reasonably necessary to protect an individual's right of self-defense" or to preserve a well-regulated militia.

Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal asked city staff to draft a report of a potential ban just days after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. The shooting reignited America's debate over gun rights.

"We hope that our local decision helps spur state and national leaders to take steps to make our communities safer," she said.

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The ordinance goes into effect June 13 and makes it unlawful to possess, sell, transport or store assault rifles. The weapons are defined as semi-automatic rifles able to accept a large magazine. The ordinance also bans certain models, including the AR-15, the AK-47 and Uzis.

Deerfield residents with assault weapons may sell them, hand them over to police or move them out of the village within 60 days of the ordinance going into effect. There are exceptions for law enforcement officers and members of the military.

Violating the ordinance could result in a fine of at least $250 and up to $1,000 for each day the violation occurs.

The village, in a statement, said the ordinance followed a Highland Park, Ill., assault weapons ban from 2013. That ordinance survived a legal challenge by Arie Friedman, a pediatrician who argued the ordinance denied him the right to protect himself and his family using semi-automatic weapons, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman.