“But more important than the vehicle to raise this key issue is the [assault weapons ban] itself: there is no place in Illinois for weapons designed to rapidly fire at human targets at close range. These guns have only one purpose: to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. The proliferation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines undermines the right of personal security of every citizen. And such weapons are not just for terrorists and drug kingpins anymore. Big-city street gangs have expanded to small towns. Meth labs have popped up in Middle America.” – Governor Pat Quinn