Bill Would Lift Illinois Restriction on Enacting Assault Weapons Bans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A lawmaker wants to undo a portion of Illinois' concealed carry law that prevents cities from banning assault weapons.

Sen. Julie Morrison says her legislation is in response to a federal appeals court ruling last month that upheld Highland Park's ban. The Deerfield Democrat says her measure would allow other cities to prohibit assault weapons.

She says: "This is about local control."

Illinois' 2013 concealed carry law included a provision that gave local governments a 10-day window to enact their own assault weapons bans.

The 7th U.S. Court of Appeals said in its ruling that Highland Park's ban doesn't violate the Second Amendment. The panel said municipalities ought to have the ability to regulate firearms.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.