>>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRAB BRANDON FRIEDMAN.

A SAFER CITY, EVERY MONDAY IN AUGUST WE ARE GOING TO DEVOTE THE PROGRAM TO PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIME, AND VIOLENCE.

WE WILL DISCUSS THE CAUSINGS AND SOLUTIONS TO CRIME AND VIOLENCE AND ALSO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR ONLINE COVERAGE INCLUDING WTTW.COM/CITY.

>> THEY WENT RIGHT INTO ACTION.

>> HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENTS PERFORMED AN ACT OF COURAGE DURING THE SHOOTING.

>> THE DEPTH OF PAIN AND TRAUMA IS UNDESCRIBABLE.

>> Reporter: THE MAJOR RE REFLECTS ON THE YEAR AND A DAY IN HISTORY.

THE HIGHLAND PARK MASSACRE AND FATHER.

>> IT'S AMERICA'S FAVORITE RIFLE PLATFORM.

>> HUNDREDS OF GUNS ABANDONED IN ILLINOIS, WHICH ONES MAKE THE LIST AND WHY.

AND THE EFFECTIVENESS TO THE BAN AND CHALLENGES TO IT.

ALL THAT AND MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> Y'S .

>>> HIGHLAND PARK RESIDENT SZ WILL BE COMING TOGETHER TO MARK THE ONE-YEAR HISTORY OF THE PA TRADE MASS SHOOTING.

IT LEFT MANY DEAD AND DOZENS INJURED.

MORE ON HOW THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER A YEAR LATER.

>> Reporter: IT WASN'T JUST SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT THRUST INTO ACTION ON JULY 4TH.

THE TOWN'S COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE ON THAT DAY AS WELL.

RECENTLY I CAUGHT UP WITH THE CERT MEMBERS AND HOW THAT DAY CHAPGED THEIR LIVES.

>> JAMIE AND VOLUNTEERS ON THE RESPONSE TEAM WERE PREPARING FOR THEIR DUTIES, KEEPING CON LOOKERS AWAY FROM THE PROCESSION.

.

>> WE KEEP THEM BACK SO THEY DON'T GET RAN OVER AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING, BACK AND FORTH.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR JOB CHANGED.

>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PONDER WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE HEARD THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF GUNSHOT.

>> THEY WERE HEROES, HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THEIR FIRST AID TRIAGE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT GETTING PEOPLE SAFELY OUT OF THE EVENT.

>> THEY WENT INTO TRIAGE TO DETERMINE WHO WAS SAFE, WHO WAS INJURED AND WHO MAY ALREADY BE BEYOND HELP.

>> IF YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE, WALK TO ME.

THEY ARE GREEN.

THEY DON'T NEED HELP RIGHT AWAY.

AND THEN YOU START HELPING PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET UP AND WALK, WHO IS IN THE SITUATION WHERE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

IT WAS SO HARD.

THE IMPACT IS DEEP.

I'M PERSONALLY FOREVER CHANGED.

>> Reporter: CERT VOL UP UNTEER SAID HE NEEDED TO STAY CALM.

>> I NEEDED TO BE THE FIRST AID GIVER, SO TO SPEAK, CPR, CONTROL BLEEDING, CROWD CONTROL, MASS HYSTERIA, TRY TO MAKE CALM OF IT AND EVACUATE THE MOST SAFETY.

>> I HAD TO DEPEND ON THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CERT TEAM SO I COULD PLAY MY ROLE, WHICH WAS TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Reporter: THE CERT TEAM IS PREPARING FOR AN EVENT THIS YEAR, BUT DREDGING UP HARD MEMORIES.

>> IT IS STARTING TO BECOME REAL.

BUT I'M GETTING ANXIOUS AND I NEVER GET ANXIOUS.

>> Reporter: IF ANYTHING, IT HAS EMBOLDENED THE GROUP WHICH GROWN ITS RANKS TO NEARLY 4-DOZEN MEMBERS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT GALVANIZE AND MADE US CLOSER LIKE A FAMILY.

>> MY SOUL IS FOREVER CHANGED, BUT HOPEFULLY IN A GOOD WAY I CAN CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK.

>> Reporter: AND YOU SEE BEHIND ME THE GATES ARE GOING UP FOR 4TH OF JULY IN HIGHLAND PARK.

IT IS A DIFFERENT EVENT THAN LAST YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

CERT IS A PROGRAM, IN FACT, IT WAS BEGAN BY FEMA PROGRAM THAT MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TAKE PRIDE IN.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE ONE ON ONE WITH HIGHLAND PARK MAYOR.

>> Reporter: AS HIGH LANT LAND PARK RESIDENTS REFLECT ON LAST YEAR'S PARADE MASSACRE AND REMEMBER THOSE LOST IN THE VIOLENCE, THE GUNMAN AND FATHER ARE EXPECTED TO FACE SEPARATE TRIALS IN THE COMING MONTHS.

MATT JOINS US WITH MORE.

MATT, THE GUNMAN IS ROBERT CREMO THE THIRD.

REMIND US WHAT CHARGES HE WAS FACING.

>> HE WAS 20 COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, THAT'S THREE FOR EACH HE KILL AND 48 COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MUSHED AND BATTERY, THOSE CAME FROM THE PARADE WHERE HE ACCESSED A BUILDING AND FIRED 80 SHOTS DOWN ON PARADE GOERS, KILLING 7 AND INJURED OTHERS.

HE WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM HIGHLAND PARK WHERE HE WAS FOUND LATE HERB U.

WHAT CHARGES DOES THE FATHER FACE.

>> HE WAS CHARGE ON SEVEN COUNTS OF RECKLESS CONDUCT, THAT'S ONE FOR EACH OF THE VICTIMS.

PROSECUTORS ALLEGED HE WAS CRIMINALLY WRECKAGE WHEN HE SPONSORED HIS SON'S FOD APPLICATION.

THE SON HAD MULTIPLE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE, WHERE HE THREATENED TO KILL PEOPLE.

>> THEY PLEADING IN IN ED NOT GUILTY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CASES.

>> IT'S COMING LATER IN THE YEAR, THE JUDGE WANTS TO SET IT FOR OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.

AS FOR CREMO THE III, HE IS DUE BACK IN COURT NOVEMBER AND BELIEVES A TRIAL DATE COULD BE SET AT THAT HEARING.

>> WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR.

THANK YOU.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> AND AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S JULY 4TH EVENTS, PARIS.

>> Reporter: BRANDON, RESILIENT AND UNIFIED, THOSE ARE WORDS TO COME TO MIND TO DESCRIBE HIGHLAND PARK AND RECENTLY I SAT DOWN WITH NANCY ROTERING AND 1 YEAR ON THIS TRAGEDY.

>> MY COMMUNITY IS STILL VERY MUCH GRIEVING, STILL UNSETTLED, STILL WORKING THROUGH SOMETHING THAT NO COMMUNITY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.

>> Reporter: WHEN YOU ARE SAYING YOUR COMMUNITY IS STILL GRIEVING, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> PEOPLE STILL GET CHOKED UP UNEXPECTEDLY.

PEOPLE ARE STILL SHARING THEIR STORIES.

IN THE CASE OF SEVEN FAMILIES MISSING LOVED ONES ON BIRTHDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.

SO MANY WORKING TO RECOVER FROM PHYSICAL WOUNDS.

THESE ARE COMPLEX AND DEVASTATING WOUNDS THAT COME FROM THESE WEAPONS AND LITERALLY THOUSANDS WHO STILL TALK ABOUT THE TRAUMA, THE FEAR OF THAT DAY AND AS WE APPROACH JULY 4TH THIS YEAR, OBVIOUSLY EMOTIONS ARE RAMPING UP AGAIN.

PEOPLE ARE RELIVE WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED.

IT'S NEVER ENDING.

>> Reporter: DO YOU FEEL ANY PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE ENSUING YEAR?

THERE IS THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN IN ILLINOIS.

>> I WILL BE HONEST, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT SUPPORTERS, GAMES FOLKS, PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO HUNT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS SITUATION, THEY ARE -- A LOT OF THEM AGREEING THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH.

AT A CERTAIN POINT I HEARD THE MUSIC STOP AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE DRUM LINE, AND IT ONLY TOOK 4 DAYS FOR ME TO REALIZE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY HEARING THE SHOOTING.

BUT AT THE TIME I TURNED TO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SAID I WONDER WHY THEY ARE ONLY DOING PERCUSSION.

THIS IS THE PINNACLE OF THE PARADE RIGHT NOW AND WITHIN SECONDS I SAW THE SWIRL OF BLUE SHIRTS AND KHAKI PANTS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDEWALK, RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES.

>> Reporter: WHAT'S YOUR IMMEDIATE THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN YOU START SEEING THOSE PEOPLE RUN.

IT DOESN'T HIT YOU RIGHT AWAY.

>> YEAH.

IT WAS THEY WERE LATE FOR A PARADE.

I WAS WONDERING WHY THEY WERE RUNNING DOWN TO THE PICNIC, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY THEY WERE RUNNING.

THEY WERE RUNNING TO GET OUT OF THE HOT ZONE.

>> .

>> Reporter: THIS IS A DIFFERENT EVENT.

HOW IS IT GOING TO BE.

>> WE ARE REMEMBERING THE LIVES LOST AND SPENDING TIME TOGETHER REFLECTING AND BEING TOGETHER AS WE REMEMBER THE VERY TRAGIC PART OF WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WANTED A PARADE, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY SAID IT'S TOO SOON FOR A PARADE, BUT EVIL DOESN'T WIN.

WE ARE WALKING DOWN THE EXACT PARADE TOGETHER.

AND AS A COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER, HAVE A PICNIC, HAVE MUSIC, HAVE SOME TIME TOGETHER.

AND THEN IN THE EVENING WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT GARY SENICE IS BRINGING THE CELEBRATION OF THE 4TH OF JULY BACK TO HIGHLAND PARK.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THE CERT MEMBERS TOLD US, IS IT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

HAS IT BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, BUT A LARGE PART OF THE REGION TOGETHER.

I THINK IT'S VITAL FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DEPTH OF THIS KIND OF PAIN AND TRAUMA IS REALLY INDESCRIBABLY.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE WERE SHOOTING NUMBER 309 OUT OF 647 MASS SHOOTINGS LAST YEAR.

THINK ABOUT OUR DATA POINT AND THE RIPPLE EFFECT ON THIS COMMUNITY AND MULTIPLY THAT ACROSS HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. FOR 1 YEAR, WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: OUR VIZ RIT SIT WITH HIGHLAND MARK MAYOR, AND IT STARTS AT 10:00 A.M. A COMMEMORATION CEREMONY AND 10:14 A MOMENT OF SILENCE ON EXACTLY A YEAR.

IT WILL KICK OFF RIGHT AT THIS INTERSECTION BEHIND ME AND ONTO THE PICNIC AND OTHER EVENTS THAT EVENING.

THAT IS IT FOR HIGHLAND PARK.

WE PASS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

>>> IN THE AFTERMATH STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

GUNS CLASSIFIED AS ASSAULT WEBS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE JANUARY 11TH, MEANING HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF GUNS CAN NO LONGER BE LEGALLY SOLD IN ILLINOIS.

THOSE THAT OWN GUNS AND AMEND IN ADDITION CAN KEEP THEM, BUT MUREGISTER WITH THE STATE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR AMANDA EXPLAINS GUNS COVERED BY THE LAW AND STILL ILLEGAL.

>> IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING, PERFECT FOR THE POST HIGHLAND PARK PARADE UNTIL 10:00 A.M.. >> LITERALLY OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY, I HEARD FIRE CRACKERS GOING OFF.

>> IT WASN'T FIRE CRACKERS.

IT WAS HAILING BULLETS.

SHE DESCRIBES HOW SHE FELT WHEN SHE WAS SHOT IN HER HIP AND BACK.

>> IMAGINE A HOT METAL TEARING THROUGH YOUR BODY.

YOU WILL GRAB WHAT WAS HIT BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, ONLY TO KNEEL EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF BLOOD DRAINING OUT OF YOU AND SOAKING EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: THE AR 15 STYLE GUN USED IN THE 4TH OF JULY ATTACK THAT LEFT SEVEN DEAD ARE BANNED IN ILLINOIS, AND NEARLY 2-DOZEN OTHER GUNS AS ASSAULT VICTIMS.

>> ILLINOIS PROHIBITS THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE MASS KILLING MACHINES.

>> MANY SAY THE ABANDONED GUNS ARE NOT MILITARY WEAPONS OF WAR.

THE GUN DEALERS GROUP IS SUING IN FEDERAL COURT TO STRIKE DOWN THE LAW.

ELDRIDGE OWNS SHOOTER SUPPLIES AND GUN RANGE AND HAD TO PULL 15 TO 20% OF HIS INVENTORY OFF THE SHELVES, AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE LAW, LIKE AR-15 STYLE RIFLES.

>> IT IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE PLATFORM.

AND IT IS THAT BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY ADAPTABLE TO ALL SHAPES AND SIZES OF PEOPLE, EASILY ACCESS RISED.

IT'S BUILT ON A STANDARD, AVAILABLE AT A WIDE VARIETY OF PRICE POINTS AROUND FEATURES.

IT IS A MODERN SPORTING RIFLE.

>> YOU JUST DESCRIBED IT AS A MODERN SPORTING RIFLE.

ADVOCATES OF THIS BAN SAY NO, THAT IS AN ASSAULT WEAPON.

>> THE ASSAULT WEAPON IS A MADEUP TERM IN THE LATE '80s WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO EQUATE THEM WITH MACHINE GUNS, WHICH HAS NO MEETING.

>> Reporter: IT IS EWE UBIQUITOUS WITH ONE TO TWO LEGALLY OWNED.

IF THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS MEANS ANYTHING, IT MEANS THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT BAN THE MOST POPULAR GUNS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS BACKED BY SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT, BUT TOM DART SAYS IT MAKES NO SENSE WHEN THE AR-STYLE GUNS IS POPULAR ARE THE WRONG CROWD, HE CALLS THE BAD GUYS.

>> SOME OF THE WEAPONS WE HAVE GOTTEN RECENTLY, THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

SO LIKE 16 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED, THIS WAS NOT NORMAL.

WE WOULDN'T GET THESE TYPE OF WEAPONS WITH THIS TYPE OF THEE THAT WILL LETHALTY.

>> Reporter: ROUNDS AUTOMATICALLY RE LOAD, BUT THE TRIGGER MUST BE MANUALLY PULLED EACH TIME TO FIRE A BULLET.

AK STYLE GUNS ARE ALSO NOW BANNED ARE SIMILAR.

THE GUNMAN MANUALLY PULLS THE TRIGGER.

COMPARE THAT WITH GLOCK, WHICH IS LIKE A SWITCH.

IT'S A LIGHT SWITCH, WITH A CLICK SWITCH, IT BECOMES AUTOMATIC.

THE GUNFIRES AS LONG AS THE TRIGGER IS PULLED.

SWITCHES WERE ALREADY FEDERALLY ILLEGAL, BUT THEY ARE NOW COVERED UNDER THE NEW STATE STATUTE.

>> Reporter: THE POP YU ULAR GLOCK STYLE HANDGUN IS STILL LEGAL.

WHAT ISN'T IS MAGAZINE THAT IS HOLD OVER 15 ROUNDS, LIKE THIS, WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO FIRE 30 BULLETS.

>> Reporter: ELDRIDGE ISN'T FIGHTING ABOUT THE SWITCH BAN, THOUGH HE SAYS THE STATE PROVISION BAN IS SUPERFLUOUS.

ELDRIDGE OVERSTEPPED THE NEW LAW.

I ASKED HIM, JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE POPULAR, IF THEY ARE USED EN MASSE MURDERS, IS IT REASONABLE TO USE THE LAW FOR PROLIFERATIONS.

>> PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT IS CONFLATING LAWFUL AND NOT LAWFUL.

WHETHER YOU DO IT WITH A STEAK KNIFE OR A HANDGUN.

WILL THE BAD GUYS GET THEIR HANDS ON?

PROBABLY, BUT MAYBE TAKE 2-WEEK WITHES INSTEAD OF 2 DAYS AND GOING FOR $400, IT WILL COST $1,000 BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO FIND.

>>.

>> Reporter: THE FEATURE S S THEY ARE INCLUDED.

IT ALLOWS STATE POLICE TO ADD MORE GUNS TO KEEP UP WITH MANUFACTURING.

>> YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHEN WE PULL SOMEONE OVER, LAST NIGHT WE FOUND A CAR WITH THREE OF THESE IN THEM, WITH EXTENDED MAGAZINE.

YOU TELL ME THAT'S FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION?

LET'S NOT PLAY THE GAME.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE LAW GOES FURTHER FOR SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE EXTENDED MAGAZINES, WHICH IS CLEARLY FURTHER BATTLEFIELD AND NOT SELF-DEFENSE.

>>> THE WEAPONS BAN, SARA IS JOINING US NOW.

WE GOT MORE PEOPLE JOINING US WITH MORE ON ILLINOIS'S BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND THE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THAT LAW, AS WELL AS OTHER GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

HERE IS LAKE COUNTY BOARD MEMBER AND LONG-TIME GUN VIOLENCE ADVOCATE AND ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ORGANIZATION, IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

RICHARD, START WITH YOU FIRST.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE GROUP THAT IS FILED THE LAWSUIT OVER THE BAN.

TELL US WHY YOU OPPOSE IT.

>> REPEAT THAT, PLEASE.

>> SURE.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FILED A LAWSUIT OVER THE WEAPONS BAN.

TELL US WHY YOU OPPOSE IT.

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE AR-15S, WE USE THEM LEGALLY.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THEM.

WE BELIEVE IT IS OUR RIGHT TO OWN AN AR-15, SO WE HAVE FILED SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO GET OUR FIREARMS BACK.

WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

THERE MAY BE ONE TO TWO MEN OTHER THAN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, BUT ONE GOT IN TROUBLE, SO WE ALL HAVE TO PAY.

WE DON'T BELIEF THAT'S TRUE.

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN THESE THINGS, SO WE ARE STANDING UP FOR OUR RIGHTS.

>> SARA, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON GUN VIOLENCE PROVISIONS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT ILLINOIS HAS TAKEN OVER THE LAST YEAR?

>> OVER THE LAST YEAR I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE CLEAR AND DANGER REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED.

THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS BY THE STATE POLICE IN THE WAKE OF THE HIGHLAND PARK TRAGEDY AND I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FIREARM RESTRAINING ORDER REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED.

THESE TWO TYPES OF ACTIONS TOGETHER MAKE UP ILLINOIS'S RED FLAG LAWS, AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT PEOPLE EXHIBITS DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR TO ACCESS FIREARMS.

>> DOES THE STATE'S GUN CONTROL MEASURE, DOES IT FEEL LIKE AN INFRINGEMENT OF YOUR RIGHTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I OWN THREE AR-15S, I HUNT WITH THEM AND TARGET SHOOT WITH THEM.

I HAVE ONE IN MY HOUSE FOR HOME DEFENSE.

AND SO WE THINK THAT THIS IS OUR RIGHT TO DO THIS.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN ANY TROUBLE.

GOING THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK EVERY NIGHT, SO I WILL GO BACK -- I GO TO A BACKGROUND CHECK TONIGHT.

I WON'T GO BACK TO ONE TOMORROW NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE 4TH OF JULY, THEY DON'T DO IT ON THE 4TH OF JULY, AND EVERY NIGHT.

I GO TO 720 BACKGROUND CHECKS EVERY YEAR JUST TO BE A LEGAL FIREARM OWNER IN ILLINOIS.

WE THINK THAT'S ENOUGH, AND WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN THESE FIREARMS.

>> RICHARD, IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS YOUR RIGHT FOR YOU AND FELLOW GUN OWNERS TO HOLD THESE TYPE OF WEAPONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING IN THE HANDS OF THE ALLEGED HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER?

>> COUPLE THINGS, THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER WAS REPORTED AND YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN IS WHEN THE POLICE GET A REPORT LIKE WITH THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER, THEY HAVE TO ACT ON IT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.

THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE, OF COURSE, IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THE VIOLENCE CAUSED BY STREET GANGS.

AND THESE PEOPLE GET IN AND OUT OF JAIL SO RAPIDLY, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU CAN GET A CARJACKING CHARGE WITH A FIREARM IN CHICAGO AND YOU CAN LITERALLY BE OUT OF JAIL IN 2 HOURS AND WE THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

WE THINK THE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES WITH FIREARMS SHOULD BE IN JAIL AND THEY SHOULD SERVE TIME AND IT SHOULD BE A WARNING TO ALL OTHERS NOT TO DO THAT.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. PEARSON, ALTHOUGH EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS NOT FACTUALLY WRONG, THE TRUTH IS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE FAR LIKELY TO BE INCARCERATED AND TO HAVE TO SIT IN JAIL PRETRIAL LONG BEFORE THEIR TRIAL TAKES PLACE AND THAT CAN HAVE REALLY PROFOUND EFFECTS OF THE STRENGTH OF THAT COMMUNITY.

I 100% AGREE WITH YOU ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A VIOLENT CRIME SHOULD BE HELD AND INCARCERATED.

BUT I THINK YOU OVERSIMPLIFY THE MATTER WHEN YOU TRY TO SAY ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN BLACK AND BROWN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, I SEE YOU USED THE TERM INVOLVED IN GANG-RELATED VIOLENCE.

I THINK THAT IS OFTEN A MISNOMER.

YOU OVERSIMPLIFY THE MATTER WHEN YOU SAY THEY ARE IN AND OUT OF JAIL IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

THAT MAY HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YOU WANT TO.

>> IT -- SAID NOTHING ABOUT COMMUNITIES.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THE PERSON IS, IF YOU ARE A CRIMINAL, YOU SHOULD SERVE TIME.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU ARE.

>> BRIEFLY BECAUSE WE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, JUST LAST WEEK THE SECOND COURT OF APPEALS HEARD ARGUMENT ON THIS.

IF THEY DECIDE ON THE ADVOCATES, WHAT THEN?

>> IF THE COURT DECIDES IN THE RIGHTS OF GUN ADVOCATES, WE WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT NEW TOOL IN ILLINOIS IN ORDER TO CUT DOWN ON THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS EXTREMELY LETHAL FIREARMS.

THESE TYPES OF FIREARMS, MILITARY ASSAULT RIFLES, THEY -- IF MR. PEARSON LIKES TO USE THIS TYPE OF FIREARM TO HUNT, THAT'S HIS PREROGATIVE.

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF YOU ARE A SPORTSMAN WHY YOU WOULD USE THAT WEAPON.

IT OBLITERATES THE ANIMAL'S BODY ON CONTACT.

THERE IS LITERALLY NO USE FOR THESE TYPE OF WEAPONS.

>> SORRY TO JUMP.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

AS THIS WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS, WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN.

RICHARD PEARSON AND SARA.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT