Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and the City Council presented several legal professionals with a key to the city Monday for their role in ensuring the protection of an ordinance banning assault weapons.
Representatives from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Christopher Wilson of Perkins Coie LLP and Steven Elrod of Holland & Knight were honored by the city’s leaders for their defense of Highland Park’s ban on assault weapons and large magazines.
Acting as the city’s Corporation Counsel, Elrod drafted the ordinance and oversaw litigation strategy, while Wilson argued the case before the 7th Circuit Court. The Brady Center was instrumental in coordinating a pro-bono agreement with Perkins Coie in order to save the city legal expenses, partially achieved with the support of U.S. Senator Richard Durbin’s office.
“As elected representatives, it is our collective responsibility to reduce access to these dangerous and unusual firearms and do everything we can to protect our children and families from potential mass violence and grief,” Mayor Rotering said. “Banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is one common sense action, but additional steps need to be taken now to reduce gun violence and protect our communities.”
The Brady Center, a highly regarded nonprofit group committed to eradicating gun violence, has extensive experience with implementing legislation and public policy to combat gun atrocities on both local and national levels.
“We are grateful for the assistance, tenacity and expertise of this legal team,” the Mayor said. “Their efforts were extraordinary. The U.S. Supreme Court's action makes it clear that states and cities across the nation now have the Constitutional right to pass tough, effective gun legislation to protect their residents.”
Alerts Sign-up