Saturday, December 15 2012 12:48 PM EST2012-12-15 17:48:01 GMT
The suspect in the Connecticut school shootings is Adam Lanza, 20, the son of a teacher at the school where the shootings occurred, a law enforcement official said Friday.
The massacre of 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school elicited horror and soul-searching around the world even as it raised more basic questions about why the gunman, a 20-year-old described as brilliant but remote, was driven to such a crime and how he chose his victims.
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Despite the President's call for action, don't expect new legislation from Congress. When a mentally disturbed gunmen shot 70 at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, he used some of the 6,000 rounds he bought online. A few on Capitol Hill pushed for Senate Bill 3458, to restrict online ammo sales. It never got even a committee hearing on Capitol Hill. But, this is a different story.
As Connecticut's mass murder unfolded, Mayor Emanuel by sheer coincidence was talking with community leaders at City Hall about Illinois's gun laws. A federal appeals court last Tuesday ruled unconstitutional the state's total ban on carrying concealed loaded firearms in public places and ordered a new law be written.
"I think it's incumbent upon us today to rededicate ourselves to making sure that our laws reflect what is important to us, because that is the safety of our children and their protection," Emanuel said.
Emanuel and Gov. Quinn -- who ordered flags flown at half-staff across Illinois in memory of the massacre -- strongly oppose the kind of wide-open new gun law proposed in Illinois by the National Rifle Association.
Many Chicago-based politicians want substantial restrictions on handguns...and a prohibition on certain larger weapons.
"I do think the best way to go includes a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines that go oftentimes with those weapons," Quinn said. "They are designed to kill people. They're military-style weapons."
Many, including Downstate Democrat Brandon Phelps, disagree. He's a longtime sponsor of gun rights legislation who believes putting more guns in the hands of more people would make every corner of Illinois safer.
"Chicago and Cook County have the strictest gun laws in the country," says Phelps. "And yet lead in gang activity, shootings, murders. So, their gun laws are not working."
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Anthony Weiner's run for a renaissance is officially on.
Anthony Weiner knows there may be a lot of New Yorkers who would never consider voting for him again, but he says he's running for mayor because he wants to bring his ideas to the fore - and win.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:45:07 GMT
Illinois public schools that teach sex education will have to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases instead of a curriculum focused on abstinence.
Illinois public schools that teach sex education will have to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases instead of a curriculum focused on abstinence.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:53 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:53:15 GMT
Illinois' congressional delegation has asked President Obama to add 16 Illinois counties to the list of those eligible to receive disaster aid after last month's flooding.
Illinois' congressional delegation has asked President Obama to add 16 Illinois counties to the list of those eligible to receive disaster aid after last month's flooding.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:52 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:52:14 GMT
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Monday, May 20 2013 3:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 19:05:27 GMT
Former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers has been appointed to head the board of a government-supported nonprofit that promotes Chicago as a tourism and convention destination.
Former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers has been appointed to head the board of a government-supported nonprofit that promotes Chicago as a tourism and convention destination.
Republicans call them "scandals." Democrats call them "fishing expeditions." Whatever the case, the Obama administration finds itself trying to fix three big problems this week. FOX's Bret Baier reports.
Republicans call them "scandals." Democrats call them "fishing expeditions." Whatever the case, the Obama administration finds itself trying to fix three big problems this week. FOX's Bret Baier reports.
