Statement by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Illinois Becoming Ninth State to Enact an Assault Weapons Ban

Illinois has now become the ninth state across America to pass an assault weapons ban and take bold action to keep weapons of war off America's streets. Today, President Biden commends the leadership of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, Representative Bob Morgan, and the numerous advocates, survivors, and elected officials whose tireless efforts turned the pain of Highland Park and other acts of gun violence into meaningful action on behalf of all Illinoisans.

Too many Americans across the country continue to lose their lives or their loved ones to gun violence. This is why President Biden has taken historic action to reduce gun violence, including signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act -- the first significant piece of gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years – into law last summer. The President has continued to press for more action to keep our homes, schools and communities safe, including federal laws requiring background checks for all gun sales and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. In the meantime, he continues to urge other states to join California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Delaware, Washington, D.C. – and now, Illinois -- to ban assault weapons at the state level to save lives.