VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
______________________________________________________________________________
ORDINANCE NO. _____________
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 15 (MORALS AND CONDUCT),
ARTICLE 11 (ASSAULT WEAPONS), SECTION 15-87 (SAFE STORAGE OF
ASSAULT WEAPONS) AND SECTION 15-88 (TRANSPORTATION OF ASSAULT
WEAPONS) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
TO REGULATE THE POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF ASSAULT
WEAPONS IN THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
______________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, Chapter 15 (Morals and Conduct), Article 11 (Assault Weapons), Section
15-87 (Safe Storage of Assault Weapons; Exceptions) and Section 15-88 (Transportation of
Assault Weapons; Exceptions) of the Municipal Code of the Village of Deerfield, as enacted by
Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013), regulate the possession, storage and
transportation of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield; and
WHEREAS, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, 430 ILCS 65/13.1(c), as amended by
Public Act 98-63, § 150 (eff. July 9, 2013), provides that the Village of Deerfield, as a home rule
unit of local government under the provisions of Article VII, Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution
of 1970, may amend Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24, which was enacted on, before
or within ten (10) days after the effective date of Public Act 98-63, § 150, pursuant to the Village’s
home rule exercise of any power and performance of any function pertaining to its government
and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public
health, safety, morals and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that, since the
enactment of Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013), assault weapons have
been increasingly used in an alarming number of notorious mass shooting incidents at public
-1-

 schools, public venues, places of worship and places of public accommodation including, but not
limited to, the recent mass shooting incidents in Parkland, Florida (Margery Stoneman Douglas
High School; 17 people killed), Sutherland Springs, Texas (First Baptist Church; 26 people killed),
Las Vegas, Nevada (Music Festival; 58 people killed), and Orlando, Florida (Pulse Nightclub; 49
people killed); and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that assault weapons
are dangerous and unusual weapons which are commonly associated with military or antipersonnel
use, capable of a rapid rate of fire, have the capacity to fire a large number of rounds due to large
capacity fixed magazines or the ability to use detachable magazines, present unique dangers to law
enforcement, and are easily customizable to become even more dangerous weapons of mass
casualties and destruction; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that amending
Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013) to prohibit the possession, manufacture
and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield may increase the public’s sense of safety
at the public schools, public venues, places of worship and places of public accommodation located
in the Village of Deerfield; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that amending
Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013) to prohibit the possession, manufacture
and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield may increase the public’s sense of safety
by deterring and preventing a mass shooting incident in the Village of Deerfield, notwithstanding
potential objections regarding the availability of alternative weaponry or the enforceability of such
a ban; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that amending
Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013) to prohibit the possession, manufacture
-2-

 and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield may increase the public’s sense of safety
by effecting a cultural change which communicates the normative value that assault weapons
should have no role or purpose in civil society in the Village of Deerfield; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that, since the
enactment of Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013), the possession,
manufacture and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield is not reasonably necessary to
protect an individual’s right of self-defense or the preservation or efficiency of a well-regulated
militia; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that, since the
enactment of Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013), courts throughout our
State and Nation have uniformly upheld the constitutionality of local ordinances and legislation
prohibiting the possession, manufacture and sale of assault weapons including, but not limited to,
an ordinance enacted by the City of Highland Park, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that, since the
enactment of Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013), State and Federal
authorities have failed to regulate the possession, manufacture and sale of assault weapons in the
best interests for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the Village of
Deerfield; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield request that State and
Federal authorities enact Statewide or Nationwide regulations to prohibit the possession,
manufacture or sale of assault weapons; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield find that amending
Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013) to prohibit the possession, manufacture

-3-

 and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield is in the Village’s best interests for the
protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the Village of Deerfield;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD, LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS,
in the exercise of its home rule powers, as follows:
SECTION 1: The recitals to this Ordinance are incorporated into and made a part of this
Ordinance as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2: Chapter 15 (Morals and Conduct), Article 11 (Assault Weapons), Section
15-86 (Definitions), Section 15-87 (Safe Storage of Assault Weapons; Exceptions) and Section
15-88 (Transportation of Assault Weapons; Exceptions) of the Municipal Code of the Village of
Deerfield, as enacted by Village of Deerfield Ordinance No. 0-13-24 (July 1, 2013), shall be
amended to read as follows (additions are indicated by underlining and deletions are indicated by
strikeout markings):
Article 11. Assault Weapons.
Sec. 15-86. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a
different meaning:
Assault weapon means:
(1)

A semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a large capacity magazine
detachable or otherwise and one or more of the following:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Only a pistol grip without a stock attached;
Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by
the non-trigger hand;
A folding, telescoping or thumbhole stock;
A shroud attached to the barrel, or that partially or completely encircles the
barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand
without being burned, but excluding a slide that encloses the barrel; or
-4-

 (E)

A muzzle brake or muzzle compensator.

(2)

A semiautomatic rifle that has a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more
than ten rounds of ammunition.

(3)

A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and
has one or more of the following:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

(4)

Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by
the non-trigger hand;
A folding, telescoping or thumbhole stock;
A shroud attached to the barrel, or that partially or completely encircles the
barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand
without being burned, but excluding a slide that encloses the barrel;
The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of
the pistol grip.

A semiautomatic shotgun that has one or more of the following:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

Only a pistol grip without a stock attached;
Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by
the non-trigger hand;
A folding, telescoping or thumbhole stock;
A fixed magazine capacity in excess of five rounds; or
An ability to accept a detachable magazine.

(5)

Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

(6)

Conversion kit, part or combination of parts, from which an assault weapon can be
assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same
person.

(7)

Shall include, but not be limited to, the assault weapons models identified as
follows:
(A)

The following rifles or copies or duplicates thereof:
(i)
AK, AKM, AKS, AK-47, AK-74, ARM, MAK90, Misr, NHM 90,
NHM 91, SA 85, SA 93, VEPR;
(ii)
AR-10;
(iii) AR-15, Bushmaster XM15, Armalite M15, or Olympic Arms PCR;
(iv)
AR70;
(v)
Calico Liberty;
(vi)
Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle or Dragunov SVU;
(viii) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FNC;
(viii) Hi-Point Carbine;
(ix)
HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, or HK-PSG-1;
(x)
Kel-Tec Sub Rifle;
-5-

 (xi)
(xii)
(xiii)
(xiv)
(xv)
(xvi)
(xvii)
(xviii)
(xix)
(xx)
(B)

The following pistols or copies or duplicates thereof, when not designed to
be held and fired by the use of a single hand:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

(C)

Saiga;
SAR-8, SAR-4800;
SKS with detachable magazine;
SLG 95;
SLR 95 or 96;
Steyr AUG;
Sturm, Ruger Mini-14;
Tavor;
Thompson 1927, Thompson M1, or Thompson 1927 Commando; or
Uzi, Galil and Uzi Sporter, Galil Sporter, or Galil Sniper Rifle
(Galatz).

Calico M-110;
MAC-10, MAC-11, or MPA3;
Olympic Arms OA;
TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-22 Scorpion, or AB-10; or
Uzi.

The following shotguns or copies or duplicates thereof:
(i)
Armscor 30 BG;
(ii)
SPAS 12 or LAW 12;
(iii) Striker 12; or
(iv)
Streetsweeper.

“Assault weapon” does not include any firearm that has been made permanently
inoperable, or satisfies the definition of “antique firearm handgun,” stated in this
section Code, or weapons designed for Olympic target shooting events.
Detachable magazine means any ammunition feeding device, the function of which
is to deliver one or more ammunition cartridges into the firing chamber, which can be
removed from the firearm without the use of any tool, including a bullet or ammunition
cartridge.
Large capacity magazine means any ammunition feeding device with the capacity
to accept more than ten rounds, but shall not be construed to include the following:
(1)
(2)
(3)

A feeding device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot
accommodate more than ten rounds.
A 22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device.
A tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm.

Muzzle brake means a device attached to the muzzle of a weapon that utilizes
escaping gas to reduce recoil.
-6-

 Muzzle compensator means a device attached to the muzzle of a weapon that
utilizes escaping gas to control muzzle movement.
Sec. 15-87.

Safe Storage of Assault Weapons; Exceptions.

(a) Safe Storage. It shall be unlawful to possess, bear, manufacture, sell, transfer,
transport, store or keep any assault weapon in the Village. unless such weapon is secured
in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety
device, properly engaged so as to render such weapon inoperable by any person other than
the owner or other lawfully authorized user. For purposes of this section, such weapon shall
not be deemed stored or kept when being carried by or under the control of the owner or
other lawfully authorized user.
(b) Self defense exception. No person shall be punished for a violation of this
section if an assault weapon is used in a lawful act of self-defense or in defense of another.
(c) The provisions of this section, excluding those pertaining to the manufacture
and sale of any assault weapon in the Village, do not apply to (i) any law enforcement
officer, agent or employee of any municipality of the State of Illinois (ii) any law
enforcement officer, agent or employee of the State of Illinois, of the United States, or of
any other state (iii) any member of the military or other service of any state or the United
States, including national guard and reserves, if the persons described are authorized by a
competent authority to so carry an assault weapon loaded on a public way and such person
is acting within the scope of his duties or training, or (iv) any qualified retired law
enforcement officer, as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 926C(c); however, any such
assault weapon subject to the aforesaid exceptions under this section shall be safely stored
and secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or
other safety device properly engaged so as to render such weapon inoperable by any person
other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user, or broken down in a nonfunctioning
state and not immediately accessible to any person, or unloaded and enclosed in a case,
firearm carrying box, shipping box or other container by a person who has been issued a
currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, except as may otherwise be lawfully
provided by the rules, regulations, general orders, ordinances or laws regulating the
conduct of any such law enforcement officer, service member or qualified retired law
enforcement officer.
Section 15-88. Transportation of Assault Weapons; Exceptions.
(a) It is unlawful and a violation of this section for any person to carry, keep, bear,
transport or possess an assault weapon in the Village, except when on his land or in his
own abode, legal dwelling or fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling
of another person as an invitee with that person’s permission, except that this section does
not apply to or affect transportation of assault weapons that meet one of the following
conditions:
(i) are broken down in a non-functioning state; or and
(ii) are not immediately accessible to any person; or
-7-

 (iii) are unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other
container by a person who has been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner's
Identification Card.; or
(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to (i) any law enforcement officer,
agent or employee of any municipality of the State of Illinois (ii) any law enforcement
officer, agent or employee of the State of Illinois, of the United States, or of any other state
(iii) any member of the military or other service of any state or the United States, including
national guard and reserves officer, agent or employee of any municipality of the
commonwealth, if the persons described are authorized by a competent authority to so carry
an assault weapon loaded on a public way and such person is acting within the scope of his
duties or training, or (iv) any qualified retired law enforcement officer, as that term is
defined in 18 U.S.C. § 926C(c); however, any such assault weapon subject to the aforesaid
exceptions under this section shall be safely transported in a locked container or equipped
with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device properly engaged so as to
render such weapon inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully
authorized user, or broken down in a nonfunctioning state and not immediately accessible
to any person, or unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box or
other container by a person who has been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner's
Identification Card, except as may otherwise be lawfully provided by the rules, regulations,
general orders, ordinances or laws regulating the conduct of any such law enforcement
officer, service member or qualified retired law enforcement officer.
Section 15-89. Penalty.
Any person who is found to have violated this Article shall be fined not less than
$250 and not more than $1,000 for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed
committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. Every person
convicted of any violation under this Article shall, in addition to any penalty provided in
this Code, forfeit to the Village any assault weapon.
Section 15-90. Disposition of Assault Weapon and Large Capacity Magazine.
Any person who, prior to the effective date of Ordinance No. ____, was legally in
possession of an Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine prohibited by this Article,
shall have 60 days from the effective date of Ordinance No. ____, to do any of the
following without being subject to prosecution hereunder:
(a) Remove, sell or transfer the Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine from
within the limits of the Village;
(b) Modify the Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine either to render it
permanently inoperable or to permanently make it a device no longer defined as an Assault
Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine; or
(c) Surrender the Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine to the Chief of
Police or his or her designee for disposal as provided in Section 15-91 of this Article.
-8-

 Section 15-91. Destruction of Assault Weapons and Lage Capacity Magazines.
The Chief of Police or his or her designee shall have the power to confiscate any
assault weapon of any person charged with a violation under this Article. The Chief of
Police shall cause to be destroyed each Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine
surrendered or confiscated pursuant to this Article; provided, however, that no Assault
Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine shall be destroyed until such time as the Chief of
Police determines that the Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine is not needed as
evidence in any matter. The Chief of Police shall cause to be kept a record of the date and
method of destruction of each Assault Weapon or Large Capacity Magazine destroyed
pursuant to this Article.
SECTION 3: The Village Manager, or his designee, is authorized and directed to submit
to the Illinois Department of State Police a copy of this Ordinance, 30 days after its adoption, and
any such other measures as may be necessary to effect the requirements of 430 ILCS 65/13.3.
SECTION 4: If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Ordinance shall be held
invalid, the invalidity of such section, paragraph, clause or provision shall not affect any of the
other provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5: This Ordinance, and each of its terms, shall be the effective legislative act
of a home rule municipality without regard to whether such Ordinance should: (a) contain terms
contrary to the provisions of current or subsequent non-preemptive state law; or, (b) legislate in a
manner or regarding a matter not delegated to municipalities by state law. It is the intent of the
corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield that to the extent that the terms of this Ordinance
should be inconsistent with any non-preemptive state law, this Ordinance shall supersede state law
in that regard within its jurisdiction.
SECTION 6: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and
approval and shall subsequently be published in pamphlet form as provided by law.
PASSED this _______ day of _______________________, 2018.
AYES:
NAYS:
-9-

 ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED this _________ day of _________________________, 2018.

______________________________
Village President
ATTEST:
____________________________
Village Clerk

-10-

 VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
______________________________________________________________________________
ORDINANCE NO. _______________
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 15 (MORALS AND CONDUCT),
ARTICLE 11 (ASSAULT WEAPONS), SECTION 15-87 (SAFE STORAGE OF
ASSAULT WEAPONS) AND SECTION 15-88 (TRANSPORTATION OF ASSAULT
WEAPONS) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
TO REGULATE THE POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF ASSAULT
WEAPONS IN THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
______________________________________________________________________________

PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE
PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD, LAKE
AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, this
_________ day of ________________, 2018.

Published in pamphlet form
by authority of the President
and Board of Trustees of the
Village of Deerfield, Lake and
Cook Counties, Illinois, this
_____ day of ____________, 2018.