July 5, 2022

Washington, D.C. – Today, Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President for Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement in response to calls from President Biden and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to enact more gun control in the wake of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois:

“Once again, all of the strict and onerous measures that anti-gun politicians claim will prevent shootings like we saw in Illinois yesterday utterly failed to stop this murderer from carrying out his evil act.  Illinois has a “red flag” law, and despite being known to the authorities and demonstrating dangerous behavior, it failed to stop him. Additionally, the state has waiting periods for firearm purchases and bans concealed carry at public gatherings like parades. In addition, Highland Park has local prohibitions on AR-15 style rifles and magazines capable of carrying more than 10 rounds.   

Again, all of this gun control, on top of the recently enacted unconstitutional federal gun control law, failed to stop this killer, Instead, it left good people defenseless in a dangerous situation and now has led to more calls for further action from anti-gun politicians.  GOA members will not sit idly by as anti-gunners try to chisel our rights away piece by piece, to the point where gun owners are fully relegated to second class citizens – we will exercise our First Amendment rights to fight back.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

-GOA-