[JURIST] Illinois Governor Pat Quinn [official website] on Tuesday proposed legislation to ban assault weapons in the state. Quinn exercised his amendatory veto power [AP report] under Article IV, Section IX of the Illinois Constitution [text] on a bill [SB 0681 materials] regulating ammunition to add language banning AK-47’s, AR-15’s and TEC-9’s. Like most gun control legislation, the amendments have sparked bitter disagreement with the National Rifle Association [advocacy website] harshly criticizing [press release] the move and the Brady Campaign [advocacy website] applauding it [press release] as a step in the right direction.

This is the latest effort to pass gun control legislation in Illinois. In June, a judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois [official website] struck down [JURIST report] a portion of a Chicago ordinance that prevented firearm purchase by individuals who have “been convicted by a court in any jurisdiction of … unlawful use of a weapon that is a firearm.” In April, the Illinois Supreme Court [official website] ruled that a challenge to a Cook County assault weapon ban could continue [JURIST report].