Kankakee Times

In a Jan. 10 Facebook post, Rep. Thomas M. Bennett announced he voted against the gun control bill and that he would be joining the Senate on Jan. 11, 2023.

"Last night the Senate voted to pass a gun control bill. I voted against this bill in the House last Thursday and since today is my last full day as a member of the House, if it should be brought up for a vote in the House again today I will be voting No" Representative Bennett said. "Tomorrow I will be sworn in as the new Senator for the 53rd district, where I will continue to stand up for our Second Amendment rights."

Bennett was elected to serve the people of the 106th district in the House of Representatives in November 2022, but with the resignation of Sen. Jason Barickman, Bennett has been appointed to that senate seat. According to the News-Gazette, Bennett was in a list of five contenders.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the amended version of the "Protect Illinois Community Act" on Jan. 10, according to ABC7. The bill went into effect immediately and bans assault weapons, high capacity magazines and rapid fire devices.

The amended House Bill 5471 clarifies what high capacity magazines are banned. Magazines with more than 10 rounds are banned for long guns, and magazines with more than 15 rounds are banned for handguns.

On Jan. 6, Bennett issued a statement about the passage of the gun control bill. "I voted No on this bill. Illinois already has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the entire nation. Adding even more new laws which take more rights away from law-abiding people is not the solution to our crime problem. There are 2.4 million FOID card holders in the state, a great many of whom will be impacted."