LOCKPORT, Ill. (CBS) — The Illinois assault weapons ban is now being reviewed by a federal appeals court after a downstate judge ruled it unconstitutional.
But just what factors are put into use in defining an assault weapon in Illinois? Some say the differences between what is considered an assault weapon and what is not can be trivial.
A Taurus TX22, a semiautomatic weapon, is considered an assault weapon and illegal in the state of Illinois. But the Smith & Wesson 500—billed as one of the most powerful revolvers in the world today—is not considered an assault weapon and is legal to own in Illinois.
Firearms expert and private detective Sergio Serritella took CBS News Chicago to Guncology, the gun store and shooting range he owns in Lockport, to show what these weapons can do. Serritella also explained how a simple design difference determines what is an assault weapon under state law.
“Things like whether a stock has a thumb hole, things like whether a weapon has a pistol grip on it, has as no effect on the form or function of the weapon otherwise—just strictly cosmetic design differences,” Serritella said.