House Democrats Present Package Of New Gun Laws

SPRINGFIELD, IL — House Democrats are presenting a package of legislation strengthening gun laws in Illinois, citing calls from the survivors of last week's shooting in Parkland, Florida. The new laws are aimed at getting guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, adding stricter regulations firearm dealers and restrict the purchase of assault-style weapons, according the office of House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“Young people and families whose lives have been forever changed by tragic school shootings went to their state capital and to Washington this week to demand their local legislators and President Trump get serious about enacting tougher gun laws," Madigan said in the release.

“Here in Illinois, Democrats will act on their plea. We will pursue legislation that limits access to the military-style assault rifles that were used to make schools in Florida and Newton into war zones," he said. "We will take steps to keep firearms out of the hands of people with a history of mental illness. And we will hold gun dealers accountable to ensure they are complying with the law.”

Madigan announced plans for a vote on gun dealer licensing legislation next week, saying it will hold them to the same standard as many other licensed professions, including car dealerships, real estate agencies and beauty salons. A similar bill (SB1657, the "Gun Dealer Licensing Bill" failed last year.)

“Illinois can—and should—enact some of the strongest gun laws in the country, but those laws will only be keeping our children, families and communities safe from gun violence if gun dealers are following them,” said Kathleen Sances, president and CEO of the Gun Violence Prevention PAC.

“Holding gun shops accountable is critical to preventing people with dangerous histories from obtaining guns, tracking lost and stolen firearms, and cracking down on straw purchasers,” she said.

Besides the gun dealer licensing bill, other new firearm regulations proposed by House Democrats include:

• Legislation preventing people under 21 from purchasing military-style assault rifles
• Enhanced screening requirements that will prevent people with a history of mental illness from purchasing firearms.
• The Lethal Violence Order of Protection Act, aimed at allowing family members or police to ask a judge to intervene and temporarily prevent people from possessing firearms if they are determined to be a threat to themselves or others

State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) advanced a gun dealer licensing bill in the Senate last week, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Senate Executive Committee also moved forward the bill establishing "emergency lethal violence" orders of protection to allow courts to temporarily take away guns or a FOID card from people deemed an immediate threat to themselves or others.

“The tragic loss of life we witness on a daily basis on our streets, in our state and across our nation is a moral crisis that demands action,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said, in the release announcing the package of new legislation.

“We must hear the voices of the children whose lives are forever changed and of the families who mourn and resolve to enact strong commonsense laws to help stop this madness. "