State lawmakers want to ban Illinoisans from carrying a gun while at the polls, citing a rise in political violence around elections.
Gun rights advocates have taken issue with the proposal, claiming the ban would unconstitutionally prohibit guns in some private residences.
House Bill 34 would ban the ability to carry a firearm at any building, property or parking area of polling locations, creating a 24th restriction on open carry laws in the state.
While state peace officers would be exempt, any other person discovered to be carrying a firearm at a polling place would be found guilty of a misdemeanor.
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Highwood, told lawmakers during a joint hearing last week between the House Gun Violence Prevention and the Ethics and Elections Committees that his bill seeks to address safety of poll workers and voters during a rise in political intimidation, threats and violence.
“The reason we’re here today is that the country is facing an unprecedented and aggressive rise in election denial and political violence and intimidation,” Morgan said. “Concerns about possible voter intimidation have prompted an increasing number of states to do exactly this.”
Morgan said 16 other states have enacted laws similar to his, including Republican-led states like Texas, Georgia and Florida.
The lawmaker also mentioned multiple instances of voter intimidation across the country in recent elections, though he did not present any examples from within the state.
Ed Sullivan, on behalf of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said the bill seeks to address a non-existent threat, citing crime data he said shows people with a concealed carry license are less likely to commit crimes when compared to the rest of the population.
