>>> ILLINOIS ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN FACES A MAJOR HURDLE.

DEMOCRATS LOOK TO PASS MORE GUN CONTROL LAWS BEFORE THE SPRING LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US .

WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> Reporter: SEVEN PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND KILLED IN THE HIGHLAND PARK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE.

MAJOR, ALBEIT CONTROVERSIAL, STEP TOWARD LIMITING WHAT CAN BE USED IN STATES.

THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN ITSELF IS UNDER ASSAULT .

LEGALLY ANYWAY.

THE SUPREME COURT TODAY -- CONSTITUTIONALI TY AND HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO RISK -- WHO RULED THAT THE LAW THAT IT VIOLATES THE EQUAL PROTECTION CONSTITUTIONAL CLAUSE.

PLAINTIFF SAY THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS -- IN THIS CASE, THEY MEAN GUN OWNERS -- SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY.

THEY SAY INSTEAD ILLINOIS LAW ALLOWS THOSE -- BECAUSE ILLINOIS' LAW ALLOWS THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY OWNED GUNS TO KEEP THEM AS WELL AS LEASE .

IN CERTAIN CASES, SECURITY GUARDS AND PRISON WARDENS.

THERE IS NOT THAT LEGAL PROTECTION.

>> A MILITARY VETERAN IS TRAINED .

BUT HE CANNOT HAVE THAT WEAPON TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY AT HOME.

A SECURITY GUARD MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRAINED.

BUT HE HAS IT ONLY WHILE HE WORKS.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT ELEVATES ABOVE ALL INTERESTS .

IT IS NOT TOLERATING INTEREST FOR A POLICE OFFICER OR INTEREST FOR A SECURITY GUARD.

INTEREST FOR A PRISON WARDEN.

>>> ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THERE IS A RATIONAL BASIS FOR THOSE CATEGORIES.

POLICE MUST TAKE ONGOING TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW TO USE THOSE MILITARY GRADE AND ASSAULT GRADE WEAPONS.

HE SAYS ILLINOIS RESIDENTS --.

>> DO YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND GET THOSE WEAPONS AND GO TO PARADE AND COMMIT MASS SHOOTINGS?

I DON'T.

I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE DOES EITHER .

>> Reporter: THERE IS ALSO FEDERAL COURT ACTION WITH THIS LAW.

THE CASE IS AWAITING ACTION FROM A U.S. APPEALS COURT.

A LOT HANGS ON THAT LEGAL VERDICT.

MEANWHILE YOU HAVE GUN ADVOCATES HERE IN SPRINGFIELD TODAY ASKING LAWMAKERS TO DO MORE.

THEY WANT LAWS THAT ALLOW PRIVATE CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO SUE GUN MANUFACTURERS .

THE LEAD POLICE SEIZE GUNS FROM SOMEONE IF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM WINS AN ORDER OF PROTECTION AGAINST HIM.

ALSO A MEASURE THAT WOULD REVISE COLD CASES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VALERIE BURGESS, WHOSE SON WAS SHOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO IN 2013.

ALMOST A DECADE LATER, HIS MURDER STILL UNSOLVED.

SHE SAYS HER SON LEFT BEHIND TWO CHILDREN WILL ONE OF WHOM IS 10 YEARS OLD AND IS ASKING QUESTIONS.

>> WHY DID THEY SHOOT?

AND I HAD TO TELL THEM, I DON'T KNOW.

HIS NEXT QUESTION WAS, DID THEY CATCH YOU DID IT?

AGAIN, MY ANSWER WAS, NO.

I WANT TO SAY, NOT YET.

BECAUSE I STILL HAVE HOPE .

>> DESPITE DEMOCRATIC SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND A GOVERNOR WHO SUPPORTS FUND CONTROL MEASURES, NONE OF THOSE MEASURES ARE FOR SURE GOING TO HAPPEN BY THE END OF THIS WEEK WHEN