Readers Weigh in on Weapons Ban in Winnetka

Several area towns — including Skokie, Evanston and Deerfield — have been debating various gun bans for their cities. While residents in Evanston and Deerfield have spoken out about assault weapon bans, residents in Skokie have been debating conceal and carry laws. 

Patch asked readers how they would feel about a weapons ban in Winnetka — and the commenters all weighed in as being against a ban. 

"The idea of local Homerule communities creating gun-control laws has been proven to be a flawed concept," commenter Dan Cox said. "The Village of Northbrook, walked away from it entirely. Why? Because they recognized that it is the responsibility of the State and Federal Government to create and pass Gun Laws." 

Commenter David, noted that the gun laws should be left to the state. 

"The only result of a ban would be to upset the balance between legal gun ownership and criminals?" David wrote. "I'm all in favor of secure storage, especially to prevent theft or injury from minors. Leave the widespread laws to the state." 

Commenter Ben F said that he has been a law enforcement officer for over 20 years, and would not like to see a ban in Winnetka. 

"I have been a sworn law enforcement officer for over two decades. I have extensive experience with many different types of firearms and have served as a firearms instructor and armorer during the course of my career," Ben F wrote. "The first question that comes to my mind on this issue is, "What is the problem that an 'assault weapons' ban would seek to solve?" I am neither aware of any crimes having been committed with such a weapon in recent years nor of any significant increase of crime within our community. Surely, there is always a chance that it could happen. But we should not be legislating based on "what if" scenarios or speculation about some future and improbable crime spree." 

Do YOU think that Winnetka should pass an assault weapons ban? Let Patch know in the comments below!