Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is touting high marks the the National Rifle Association (NRA) has given her over her time as a legislator as the Republican gubernatorial primary nears in her run against Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“West Point grad Jeanne Ives is at the top of her class when it comes to protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” a mailer from the Ives campaign reads. “Bruce Rauner refused to answer the questionnaire. Rauner is a "?" on protecting your rights. There's no question Jeanne Ives has your back. There's no question Bruce Rauner doesn't.”
The NRA has given Ives an A rating throughout her tenure as a legislator.
Ives also recently weighed in on proposed gun legislation that is soon scheduled to be considered by the Illinois General Assembly as well as the national gun debate as a whole during an interview with the Charlotte Observer.
“The previous gun licensing bill literally exempted big box stores from licensing requirements that (were required) for people at the smaller shops,” Ives told the paper. “Now, how is that fair or how will it solve the problem? That’s how unsophisticated their bill was ... we’re going to let Walmart and the bigger guys off, and then small business are going to get hammered. How do you do that and say you’re protecting gun safety.”
Ives added the whole notion of the government just enacting sweeping gun laws that infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens seems nonsensical to her.
“The dealers that are the problem when we trace guns, fine let’s put extra scrutiny on those dealers,” she said. “What are they not adhering to? Is there a straw purchase or not? To holistically punish law-abiding citizens and people already with licenses and say that’s going to solve a problem is unrealistic.”
In the wake of the recent Parkland, Florida school shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead, Ives said states need to do a better job of making certain that the laws already on the book are being fully recognized and adhered to.
“I don’t know what the Florida measures are, but here in Illinois we do have strong measures to get a firearm,” she said while adding that her state still remains far from perfect in the way that it deals with the issue of gun safety.
“It’s unfortunate in this state that we care more about public pensions than about doing something about mental health,” she said. “When 20 to 25 percent of your general revenue (is) eaten up by public pensions, what does that tell you? There’s no money left for mental health.”
Finally, Ives said all the facets of government have to do a better job of working hand-and-hand to increase the levels of safety for everyone.
“The Florida shooting was an unbelievable failure of government at all levels,” she said of all the missed signals that have been discovered since alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High on Feb. 14.
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