Amid legal battle, Deerfield amends assault weapons ban to add high-capacity magazines

This file photo shows a custom-made semi-automatic hunting rifle with a high-capacity detachable magazine. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) Deerfield trustees have amended wording in their now-halted ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, a move officials say clarifies the intent of the language. The Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved the changes termed a “cleanup” by Mayor Harriet Rosenthal in a little more than a minute and with little discussion Monday night. The ban was originally passed by a unanimous vote April 2. Officials contended that it was an amendment of a 2013 ordinance “regulating ownership and possession of assault weapons,” according to the language of the amendment. This week’s change stipulates that large-capacity magazines as well as assault weapons are not allowed in the village. Last week, a Lake County Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order that stops the village from enforcing the ordinance, which was set to take effect June 13. While the April 2 ordinance did not specifically say large-capacity magazines were outlawed, it did define them. A large-capacity magazine is define in the ordinance as “any ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than ten rounds.” Several exceptions are then defined. When Rosenthal first asked the village staff and attorney to prepare an ordinance, she said it would be based on the one approved five years ago by Highland Park that withstood legal challenges all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. A closer look showed that was not the case. […]

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