Dear Friend,
Last week I was as busy as ever, attending events, ribbon cuttings, and certificate presentations. It is my privilege to serve as 117th district State Representative. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the memorable stops during a busy and productive week!
Ribbon Cut on New Rides Mass Transit Hub in Marion
Great news last week as a new Transit Hub officially opened its doors in Marion. This facility will continue and enhance the transportation opportunities for the city of Marion, Williamson County and the Rte. 13 corridor.
Herrin Rotary Meeting
It was my privilege to provide a legislative and district office update to my friends a the Herrin Rotary during their noon meeting on Monday. I discussed the upcoming Veto Session and some important bills that I have worked on and continue working to get passed. Great time with a great group of people!
Certificate Presented to EA Knight Construction on 40 Years in Business
Lane Davis Earns Eagle Scout Badge!
It was an honor to attend the Eagle Scout Badge ceremony in celebration of Lane Davis. Lane’s project to get his Eagle Scout badge led him to build and place this awesome chair now erected at Johnston City Arrowhead Lake. What a great idea to inspire folks to memorialize their trip to Arrowhead Lake with a photo on the BIG chair. Thank you Lane and CONGRATULATIONS!
PRESS RELEASE: Southern Illinois Legislators Named to House Firearms Awareness Task Force
Springfield….Three Republican members of Southern Illinois’ legislative delegation have been named to the Illinois House Firearm Public Awareness Task Force. The 24-member bipartisan task force is charged with producing an omnibus, or all-inclusive, piece of legislation that would overhaul the state’s gun laws.
State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton), and State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) were appointed to serve on the task force by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.
“I am grateful to serve on this important firearms task force along with my colleagues Rep. Severin and Rep. Windhorst. We all agree that Illinois’ gun laws are already among the strictest in the nation and stand ready to oppose any further infringement on 2nd Amendment rights,” Rep. Bryant said. “I am stridently pro-2nd Amendment and my work on this task force will reflect my position that law-abiding gun owners and gun dealers are already burdened enough.”
In the 100th General Assembly, legislation requiring further licensing restrictions and fees on small gun dealers passed was later signed into law by Governor Pritzker during his first week in office. During a press conference touting the signing of SB 337, Governor Pritzker said, “Today is a long overdue step to do more to prevent gun violence, to make sure that guns don’t fall into the wrong hands.”
Since January 1, 2019, more than 2000 people have been shot in the city of Chicago.
“The rhetoric coming from Democrat politicians from the city of Chicago and the surrounding urban areas would have us believe the answer to the gun-violence problem in Chicago is more gun laws,” said State Rep. Dave Severin. “Chicago has extremely restrictive gun-control laws already, yet every Monday morning we wake to another staggeringly high number of people that were shot and injured or shot and killed over the weekend. The Democrats’ rhetoric on gun control laws simply doesn’t match the results. When law-abiding citizens are stripped of their rights, we as a society are less safe.”
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst expressed concerns similar to those of Rep. Bryant and Rep. Severin.
“The majority of my constituents feel as though the State of Illinois burdens them enough when it comes to legal firearm ownership,” Windhorst said. “There must be some recognition by the majority party that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to gun legislation will result in further costs, burden, and alienation of average citizens that follow the law and want to exercise their Constitutional right to bear arms.”
The first meeting of the House Firearms Awareness Task Force will be Wednesday, October 16, at noon in Chicago.
Stay Connected!
My office in Marion is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can call any time at 618-440-5090 or email me at Severin@ILHouseGOP.org.