Trustees Reject Proposed Assault Weapons Regulations

Jim Schultz is no stranger to guns.

He's a 28-year Navy veteran, he served for six years as the emergency management director for the Lake County Sheriff's Office and he served on Lake Zurich's Police Advisory Committee. He is also a firearms instructor. 

"I'm all about safety," said Schultz. 

What he didn't support, however, was an ordinance the village board considered Monday night on the regulation of assault weapons.

"Is this ordinance really about firearm safety? No, I don't think it is," said Schultz. He found the ordinance, which would amend the village code, to be a means to ban and confiscate assault weapons.

"If you don't anticipate confiscation of firearms, then why is it in (the ordinance)?" said Schultz. He added that he'd rather see the village spend taxpayer money to pay down debt rather than enforce an assault weapons ordinance.

Schultz wasn't alone in his opinions. Nearly every person who spoke during the hour-long public comment session of the standing-room-only meeting voiced similar opinions against the proposed ordinance. 

Village Attorney Scott Uhler explained that the ordinance was not intended to be a ban on assault weapons. Instead, the ordinance aimed to regulate the storage of assault weapons, stating that such weapons must be locked up and can only be used in lawful self-defense.

"That's all this ordinance contains. It does not contain a ban," said Uhler.

Trustees ultimately voted 4-1 not to approve the ordinance.

"I don't believe that guns kill people. People kill people," said Mayor Tom Poynton. "I'm of the opinion that there's nothing for us to do at this point (regarding the ordinance)."

Trustee Jim Beaudoin agreed, noting that he is in favor of smaller governments with less regulation.

"I think it would be hard to enforce," said Beaudoin.

"I agree with you," Poynton said, adding that he hasn't heard from any residents who are in favor of enacting such an ordinance.