Peoria Standard

State Sen. Thomas Bennett (R-Gibson City) has vowed to continue fighting to protect Illinoisans' Second Amendment rights as he transitions to a new chamber in the state legislature. 

Bennett, a former state representative, announced he voted against the gun control bill that passed the state Senate on Jan. 9.

"Last night the Senate voted to pass a gun control bill. I voted against this bill in the House last Thursday and since today is my last full day as a member of the House, if it should be brought up for a vote in the House again today I will be voting No," Bennett wrote in a Jan. 10 Facebook post. "Tomorrow I will be sworn in as the new Senator for the 53rd district, where I will continue to stand up for our Second Amendment rights."

Bennett was elected to serve Illinois 106th District in the House of Representatives in November 2022, but was appointed to the senate after Sen. Jason Barickman's resignation. The News-Gazette reported Bennett was on the list of five contenders for the senate seat. 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) signed the amended version of the "Protect Illinois Community Act" on Jan. 10, according to ABC7. The bill took effect immediately. The amended House Bill 5471 clarifies what high capacity magazines are banned. Magazines with more than 10 rounds are banned for long guns, and magazines with more than 15 rounds are banned for handguns.

On Jan. 6, Bennett issued a statement about the passage of the bill, which he voted against. Bennett said, "Adding even more new laws which take more rights away from law-abiding people is not the solution to our crime problem. There are 2.4 million FOID card holders in the state, a great many of whom will be impacted."