Park Ridge Gun Control Debate Delayed By Power Outage

Under the Committee of the Whole format, the city council was scheduled to contemplate some ideas as to whether Park Ridge should have an adjustment to its assault weapons guidelines.

However the line of storms that caused havoc in the Chicago area including damage and public transportation delays, presumably disrupted electricity at the village hall.

As the meeting time closed in, Mayor David Schmidt discussed the situation informally with the rest of the council and village staff.

With fears that power would not be restored for several hours and the already dark meeting room was only going to get darker as sunset approached, the decision was made to put off the meeting, which probably thrilled the Blackhawks fans in the audience.

Calling the proceedings into order for just a moment, Schmidt announced most of the items that are not likely to generate much controversy such as some purchase orders will be addressed on July 1.

The assault weapon discussion and what to do with the Uptown TIF district was rescheduled for for July 8.

However, Schmidt said a special session could be called if Gov. Pat Quinn, takes action on the “conceal carry” legislation that passed both legislative chambers in May. The city only has 10-days after Quinn signs the bill to consider measures such as an assault weapons ban. 

The situation has come to a head because last December the state ban on citizens carrying concealed weapons was ruled unconstitutional by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Illinois Legislature then passed a bill in May that allowed for concealed carry that Quinn said Monday he is still reviewing. The court imposed a July 9 deadline to have conceal carry laws in place.

However, if this bill is signed by Quinn, a provision in it says “home rule” municipalities have ten days to put assault weapons rules in place, or they will not be able to do so in the future. 

Therefore, many communities in the Chicago area including Buffalo Grove, Evanston and Deerfield have been discussing lately as to how to proceed with the deadlines close at hand.

Even if the meeting had gone on as scheduled Monday, no action would have been taken as that can only be done in a city council meeting. But the idea was to get some ideas as to how Park Ridge wants to deal with the emotional issue that almost certainly will bring out both gun rights advocates and opponents.