Sen. Durbin: 'Historically' Founding Fathers Didn't Have Assault Weapons In Mind

DURBIN: “First, we have the killing of a police officer last year in Chicago. Her name was Ella French, and she was killed with a gun that had been the subject of a straw purchase. Which meant that a felon, convicted felon took his girlfriend over — or personal friend over to Indiana, purchased the gun for that felon who then used it to kill this wonderful police officer. There was an outpouring of feelings among law enforcement, everyone in the city of Chicago over this terrible straw purchase death. We need to have stronger laws in that regard. The major that was enacted recently in the Community Safety Act moves in that direction, we need to do more. Secondly, our governor has led an effort in the Illinois General Assembly to pass an assault weapon ban. It is interesting because we now have a reaction from sheriffs around the state to say they won’t enforce it. So we’re going to be the ground zero for this debate in the weeks and months to come. But having seen the damage, the violence that came about in the Fourth of July, shooting at the parade in Highland Park, Illinois, where a fellow discharged 83 rounds in 60 seconds. This is unthinkable. Anybody who believes that’s what the Founding Fathers had in mind historically, is just off base completely.”