Metro East Sun

Illinois state Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) has been tabbed by Minority House Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) to serve on the state’s newly created Firearm Public Awareness Task Force.

Bourne, a stated gun owner and National Rifle Association member, is one of 12 House Republicans named to the 24 member, bipartisan panel established by House Speaker Michael Madigan. While the panel has a stated goal of making recommendations aimed at reducing gun violence, Bourne is on record with her belief that the way to achieve that goal does not include stripping away the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

“Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, and yet Democrats in the majority propose new laws and regulations every year that go after law-abiding gun owners,” Bourne said in a press release. “If we are going to get to the true causes of gun violence in Illinois, we should not infringe upon the rights of those who are using firearms safely and legally.”

Minority House Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs)

Bourne argues that lawmakers would be better served to study ways to keep guns out of the hands of criminals intent on wreaking havoc.

“We need to make sure that gun crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and we must make sure that our current gun laws are being enforced,” Bourne said. “My hope is that this task force will develop solutions that will actually reduce crime instead of continuing to punish law-abiding gun owners.”

Earlier this year, the House passed a bill that would raise FOID card fees by 400 percent and mandate that cardholders submit to fingerprinting by Illinois State Police. In voting No on the measure, Bourne blasted it as another example of how the rights of legal gun owners are often trampled.

Bourne has been serving in Springfield since 2015. Her 95th District includes all or parts of Madison, Macoupin and Montgomery counties.