Mayor Emanuel, top Dems continue to pressure Rauner to sign gun bill

Top Democrats seem to think they've handed Governor Rauner a choice that could hurt him politically, no matter what he does.

This time it involves a bill on his desk to license Illinois gun dealers.

Rauner faces a conservative challenger in next week's Republican primary, and he's hinting he will not sign the bill into law -- a position that might help him now but hurt him in the fall.  

Nearly every day now, Mayor Emanuel or other top Democrats are demanding Gov. Rauner sign a bill now on his desk to force hundreds of gun dealers to obtain an Illinois license. Advocates say it would be easier to track the 40 percent of Chicago crime guns purchased in-state.

“He has a responsibility to tell people where he stands. He can run, but he cannot hide from this issue,” Emanuel said.

The Republican governor faces a much-tougher than expected conservative primary challenge next Tuesday. For now, every question about gun laws includes this standard response.

“Comprehensive solution, that's what I support, a comprehensive solution,” Rauner said.

But it's not clear what Rauner means by that. Beyond outlawing so-called bump stocks that make semi-automatic firearms fully automatic, he's vague. He says schools should be safer, firearms should be kept away from criminals and the mentally ill, and police better protected, but offers few details.  

Rauner's reportedly told gun rights activists from the NRA he will not sign the bill requiring gun dealers to get a state license.

“Well, it is true that gun dealers are already federally licensed. That is true,” Rauner said.    

“We license barber shops. We license hair dressers,” state senator Kwame Raoul said. “Governor, sign the bill. It's an easy bill to make a decision on.”

Gov. Rauner has until the end of next month to announce whether or not he'll sign the gun dealer proposal, known in Springfield as Senate Bill 1657.