CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the first reading of the ordinance amending Title 3 of the Naperville Municipal Code to prohibit the local commercial sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines
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DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
SUBMITTED BY: Michael DiSanto, City Attorney
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
There have been dozens of mass shootings in the United States during the last decade, including three within the last two months:
1. July 4, 2022 - Highland Park, IL
Seven people were murdered, and 46 others were injured during a mass shooting that took place during an Independence Day parade. The shooter used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle with three 30-round magazines to fire 83 shots into the parade crowd from the rooftop of a local store. A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged.
2. May 24, 2022 - Uvalde, Texas
21 people were murdered (19 children and 2 staff members), and 18 others were injured during a mass shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School. The 18-year-old shooter used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle.
3. May 14, 2022 - Buffalo, New York
Ten people were murdered, and 3 others were injured during a mass shooting that took place in a grocery store. The shooter used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged.
Commonplace in mass shootings are the use of lawfully purchased assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines. The U.S. Department of Justice describes assault weapons as "semiautomatic firearms with a large magazine of ammunition that were designed and configured for rapid fire and combat use."
Like many of the municipalities that have encountered mass shootings involving assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, Naperville has a vibrant commercial area, public parks, restaurants, movie theaters, music venues, parades, elementary, middle and high schools both public and private, colleges and universities...
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