Rory Welch | Courtesy photo
Rory Welch | Courtesy photo
Rory Welch, a former Republican candidate for State House District 57, is criticizing Democratic lawmakers for backing legislation that would make it more difficult to give away guns as raffle prizes.
Welch dubbed Democratic lawmakers "pathetic."
"@JBPritzker and @illinoisdems coddle criminals while looking for every way possible to infringe in #2A rights of law abiding citizens," Welch said on Twitter.
Senate Bill 4224 would amend the “Raffles and Poker Runs Act,” which would eliminate guns from being prizes in such contests.
“Prohibits the State Board of Elections and the governing body of any county or municipality from issuing a license under the Act to a person that will offer a firearm as a prize at a poker run or raffle, unless that person is a certified licensee under the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act," the bill’s synopsis reads. "Limits home rule powers. Defines ‘firearm.'"
Safe Suburbs USA PAC is also opposing the gun giveaway bill. In a tweet, the PAC commented, "As usual, our elected officials spend all their time poking at lawful gun owners while devising new ways to keep unlawful gun holders out of jail.”
Welch’s comments come as the SAFE-T Act is set to take effect in five weeks. The legislation was a flashpoint in the 2022 campaign. Opponents of the law claim thousands of inmates who are currently being held in jails around the state while they await trial on serious crimes would be released as a result of the bill, the Will County Gazette reported.
The bill was filed by District 27 State Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). She also ran in the recent general election, defeating Bill Robertson.
Alerts Sign-up