There have 45 school shootings in the U.S. this year, but U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says gun control measures are blocked by what he calls a “death grip” by the National Rifle Association.

“Stunned and frightened and sometimes ashamed,” is how Durbin describes the reaction to last week’s fatal shooting of nine people at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon. He blames the NRA’s influence for holding back stricter gun control measures in Congress and hopes voters will pay extra attention to who argues against those proposals.

Durbin blames the NRA for blocking one particular gun control measure which could help Illinois: requiring background checks for private firearm sales, like those at gun shows. Without a federal requirement, Durbin says guns used in shootings in Chicago often come in from gun shows held across state lines in Lake County, Indiana.

In other state news, it’s not been an easy seven months in the Illinois House, but State Representative Avery Bourne, 23, says she wants four full years of it.

Bourne — who was picked to replace now-Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal in the 95th District — says she is running for a full term.
Bourne put on hold law school in order to fill Rosenthal’s seat.  She says she is hopeful the state budget situation is solved soon, and is willing to negotiate on anything to help make that happen.