Rock Island Today

A better way to ensure gun safety is to penalize owners who let their weapons fall into the hands of criminals, state Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) says.

McCombie made these remarks on May 23 in a YouTube video in which she addressed the Illinois House regarding proposed gun legislation.

“It bothers me to have people negotiate my Second Amendment rights, quite a bit,” she said at the beginning of her address. “If you truly want to keep children, and keep (other) people safe, and take away guns, then punish people that are giving guns to people that are killing children.”

Gun safety has become especially relevant in the wake of mass shootings, such as the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people died, and more recently the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas that left 10 dead. According to The Trace, dealers in suburban Cook County provided 2 out of 5 guns used in Chicago for crimes committed between 2013 and 2016.

As the nation grapples with ways to balance gun rights with preventing gun violence, Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) sponsored SB 1657, the Gun Dealer Licensing Act, which was ultimately vetoed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. When an override campaign proved unsuccessful, Harmon re-introduced another version of the law, which is under consideration.

In the video, McCombie refers to HB 4588, which she said would “increase and enhance penalties to people” refusing to secure their guns to keep them “out of the hands of people that are going to use them” for crimes. That bill, which would penalize gun owners who allow parolees access to their guns, has been forwarded to the House rules committee.

McCombie said guns are just instruments, and those intent on harming themselves or others can find other methods besides guns.

“So if you’re serious about gun control and want to have a bill that’s going to take guns off the streets, come after responsible gun owners like myself and ... discipline me if I am not locking up my guns and disarming them,” she said.