McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) doesn’t want to see the tragedy of a pair of mass shootings that left at least 31 dead earlier this month lead to even more violations of constitutional law.

“I am certain that some lawmakers here in Illinois will face even more pressure from bills like Senate Bill 1966,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “I may even face more, but I don’t see it shifting the tide in my district. When this bill passed through the House not long ago, I thought it infringed on Second Amendment rights and my position hasn’t changed.”

Ugaste said he suspects that lawmakers in Springfield will be forced to again come face-to-face with the bill, which seeks to raise the cost of Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards, require gun owners to submit to fingerprinting before obtaining a FOID card and increase card renewal costs and fees either during the veto or spring session.

“I always thought it would come to this,” he added. “I’m not opposed to there being a reasonable conversation on the issue of gun reform; I just really didn’t like this particular bill. It’s fair to say I think it infringes on the rights of too many.”

Whatever’s to be done on the issue of guns in the wake of this month's violence, Ugaste hinted that he would rather see it done on a national level.

“It’s not that we can’t do anything at the state level, but if something reasonable needs to be done, why can’t we do it nationally instead of trying to address this state by state?” he said.

Still in his first term, Ugaste’s 65th District includes all or parts of Batavia, Elgin, Geneva, Hampshire, South Elgin and St. Charles.