HIGHLAND PARK (Ill.) — Republican nominee for Illinois governor Darren Bailey held a fundraiser where he raffled off a Smith & Wesson AR-15 rifle, a weapon that is almost identical to the one used in this week’s Fourth of July parade massacre.
Bailey posted a 2019 video to Bailey’s campaign page Facebook. It shows Bailey standing in front of a raffle drum to select the winner during his time as an Illinois state representative.
He says, “As promised, I have held a raffle to win an AR-15, a Smith & Wesson and I have that,” in the video.
Bailey, now a state senator has hosted numerous raffles for guns throughout the years.
Although legal, Bailey’s long-held support of bills to expand gun rights and Bailey’s acceptance of raffle imagery is putting Bailey under more scrutiny at home and nationally. This comes at a time when national momentum is building to ban assault-style guns in the state.
After being accused in one of the most horrific massacres in state history, Robert Crimo III was charged with seven counts of first-degree killing.
Assistant State Attorney Ben Dillon stated that authorities had recovered a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 semiautomatic rifle from the alleged shooter while he fled the scene Monday.
Pritzker is shocked by the firearm’s resemblance to the one Bailey raffled off. Bailey unsuccessfully proposed legislation last year to abolish the Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID). He continues to sell T-shirts titled “Void theFOID” on his campaign website.
Bailey, who is running to be a staunch Trump supporter was not the Republican Party’s top choice for November’s showdown against Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. In a failed attempt to get support for Richard Irvin’s moderate party, the GOP spent $50 million. Bailey won in the primary last month and proudly declared that he was pro-gunned and pro-abortion in this blue state.
Positions that were popular in the primary may not be so in the general election. After saying “let’s go on” on Monday, roughly two hours after Highland Park shooter shot more than 70 shots into the crowd, he quickly became a national trending topic on social media. He killed seven people and injured dozens more.
Bailey stated that the shooter was still at large. He and his supporters prayed for justice and then we can move forward and celebrate our nation’s independence.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tweeted, “This is what happens to MAGA type candidates.” They have been so trained in anger and “own the libs”, that they have lost the ability for compassion.
Keith Olbermann, national commentator, tweeted: “To hell With Him and All Who Support Him.”
After backlash Bailey later apologized, claiming that he had been dismissive of the massacre.
In a statement released by his campaign, he stated that he regretted having contributed to the state’s pain. “I hope that we can all join hands in prayer and action to tackle rampant crime, mental health issues, and make sure these terrible tragedies don’t happen again.”
Some Highland Park residents were not happy with Bailey’s comments. They visited the spot near the shooting to pay respect to the victims. Jurgen Peters from Highland Park said that he heard Bailey apologize on the radio, but didn’t believe that he truly regretted it.
Peters stated, “I believe that’s probably him.” He’s pro-guns, so he cannot say “Oh, what a calamity!” He won’t say that.”
A spokesman for Bailey provided an answer to questions regarding Bailey’s comments about “move on”. It also included a reference to Highland Park victims and shootings in Chicago.
“Friends, we ask that you continue to pray and act together to address the violence epidemic and to improve mental health in Illinois as well as across the country,” the statement read. “We continue to lift the spirits of Highland Park’s victims and all the victims that we see every day in Chicago and throughout the state.”
Bailey’s comments on guns over the years may be a problem in a state-wide race.
“I support Amendment 2. Bailey tweeted March 4: “I support constitutional carry and ending FOID cards.” “The FOID has no purpose other than to create a barrier between honest Illinoisans, their ability to protect themselves, and their families.
Bailey’s attempts to get rid of FOID cards in the state, which is a permitting system with expanded background checks, failed to make it through a legislature that had Democratic supermajorities. Pritzker instead signed into law last year a bill that tightened FOID card requirements.
Pritzker is likely to benefit politically from the AR-15 raffle video, as he was already describing Bailey as too extreme in Illinois.
Pritzker’s reaction to the shooting was quite different from Bailey’s. On the day of the massacre Pritzker, the first-term governor, gave a passionate speech condemning gun violence and urging a ban on assault-style rifles nationwide.
He reacted to a tweet from the National Rifle Association that stated, “Since 1950 94% of mass-public shootings have occurred in gun-free areas.”
Pritzker replied: “And 100% mass public shootings occur with guns. As Governor, for the people of Highland Park, leave us alone.
The Bailey campaign refused to answer questions about Pritzker’s plans to continue raffle off firearms. It instead made a criticism of Pritzker’s record in Illinois crime.
“Crime has skyrocketed in the wake of JB Pritzker, and he has failed our streets to keep them safe.” Pritzker’s attacks reek desperation, and offer no solutions,” Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose stated in a statement to NBC News. “Darren Bailey supports significant expansion of mental healthcare funding and empowering the police to enforce existing laws.”
