* Press release…
State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) joined Democratic and Republican lawmakers today to announce a new effort to tackle the issue of illegal guns being used in crimes in Illinois.
The legislation, Senate Bill 337, incorporates portions of Harmon’s Gun Dealer Licensing Act, which Gov. Bruce Rauner recently vetoed, as well as provisions to better record and track private sales.
“We took seriously concerns about the bureaucracy included in the Gun Dealer Licensing Act,” Harmon said. “This legislation provides much-needed oversight on gun purchases without creating a new bureaucracy.”
Harmon’s measure would require the Illinois State Police, rather than the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, to certify dealers.
The legislation also treats all firearm licensees the same, eliminating exemptions for small and large dealers to focus on their actions, not their size.
To crack down on illegal transfers after a gun is purchased, the measure puts in place a penalty for individuals who fail to maintain a record of a private sale and requires State Police to make key information about guns used in crimes available to the public.
“We recognize that blame does not lie solely on the dealer when someone uses a gun to commit a crime,” Harmon said. “By certifying gun dealers and implementing better practices to track straw purchasers, we hope to be able to make it harder for someone to use an illegal gun to commit a crime.”
Several key provisions included from the Gun Dealer Licensing Act are:
· requiring gun dealers to implement a safe storage plan for firearms during retail hours and after closing,
· requiring the posting of signage reminding employees and customers to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have access,
· requiring certified licensees to make a copy of the buyers or transferee’s valid FOID card or ID and attach it to the documentation detailing the sale,
· requiring employees to have annual training regarding legal requirements and responsible business practices,
· and requiring certified licensees to have their place of business open for inspection by the State Police and local law enforcement.
Senate Bill 337 awaits action in the Senate.
Harmon said today he expects the bill to get a hearing as early as today.
* From the presser…
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 1:20 pm:
Who are the Republicans co-sponsoring? The bill status only lists Democrats so far. I can’t tell from the photo who the Republicans are who support this.
- Amalia - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
“…..private sellers who may misplace certain paperwork”….yikes. see, that is the point. records of sales are important especially for an item that is used to kill. if you don’t do that, you have no business selling guns.
- GreatPlainser - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
While this is less vague than the original bill its still not effective policy. It is kind of like saying, “hey you need a second driver’s license.” If there were a bad FFL out there allowing straw purchases is this going to stop that? Probably not. There in lies the problem. It perpetuates the base fanning rhetoric that surrounds this issue. One side says “any laws are good if it restricts 1 guns sale” the other says “this is one step to registration and confiscation”. I’ll say it again. We are not moving the needle on solving violence in our communities. There has to be real middle ground. We’re closer just not there yet.
- Bruce (no not him) - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
What is this license going to cost?
“· and requiring certified licensees to have their place of business open for inspection by the State Police and local law enforcement.” Are they going to inspect nights and weekends? Lots of small dealers do this on off times from their regular jobs.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 1:40 pm:
Who are the Republican sponsors? The bill status only lists Dems and I can’t tell from the photo which Republicans support this bill.
- Mike Cirrincione - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 2:34 pm:
As a supporter of the 2nd Amendment and “A Well Regulated Militia….” I agree.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
I need to understand the document needs for private sellers. There are no records for some guns that have been in a he family for decades.
- Anon - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 2:52 pm:
@47th Ward - I believe the Republicans that were at the press conference were Senator Nybo, Senator Rooney, Senator Curran, and Rep Olsen.
- FreeCake - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
Congressman Quigley had a post on FB today about gun violence statistics in Chicago. Sixty percent of guns used in crimes in Chicago are from out of state. I fail to see how this bill will do much of anything to address gun violence in our state. These numbers have been out for a while, but seems to reinforce this as more burdensome regulation on small business owners.
I would argue that much of what this bill would impose on gun dealers is already in place. At both big box and small mom and pop shops, cameras are everywhere, verification of FOID cards, checks at those who are FFLs on the side, the only thing missing is the 1000 dollars to the state.
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 4:20 pm:
Other than the new license, it looks like my local gun dealer might have to put up a new sign. He already complies with the rest of it.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 4:40 pm:
Why are we still discussing this. How many more people have to die before change can occur??? It is one big old mess…How do 17 year olds get guns anyway? Please please somebody tell me.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 4:53 pm:
==It is one big old mess…How do 17 year olds get guns anyway? Please please somebody tell me.==
Generally, 17 year olds get guns illegally. Nothing in theseproposed, duplicative of Federal licensing bills will change that. Nothing. These are nothing but bills to make it seem like the State is doing something, written and proposed by legislators who have little idea about how the process currently works. But it looks good in a headline and stirs up supporters who have equally little clue about current licensing requirements.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 4:59 pm:
“…..private sellers who may misplace certain paperwork”….yikes. see, that is the point. records of sales are important especially for an item that is used to kill. if you don’t do that, you have no business selling guns.”
This is a reference to private sellers (i.e. two friends) not dealers. There is already a law to check FOID and retain paperwork. Believe this just makes losing the paperwork into a felony.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 5:02 pm:
==It is one big old mess…How do 17 year olds get guns anyway? Please please somebody tell me.==
The same way they get alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, or any other object that is illegal for minors… Stolen or a dishonest adult.
- Mama - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 5:49 pm:
Will Rauner sign this gun bill?
- Boomdun - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 8:12 pm:
Does Nybo truly think this helps him with the Suburban Women he will need to be re-elected? Or that the Senate Democratic machine will leave him alone on his position on guns? All sides are playing the political agenda on this one… from Rauner, to Senate Dems to Nybo
- Roger - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 8:55 pm:
When are they going to get it? Can some one name one criminal who follows any laws these people dream up. How about voting term limits on yourselves now that would be something I could believe in.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 9:01 pm:
“…requiring certified licensees to have their place of business open for inspection by the State Police and local law enforcement.”
Called this out months ago. It’s insane to allow good old boy cops and deputies in every corrupt Klan county in Illinois outside of Cook, Lake, and Will to wander into gun shops whenever they want to copy lists of gun owner addresses and firearms owned. This is prelude to SWAT raids and police execution of gun owners who “resist arrest.”
There are already bills sponsored to delist semiauto rifles from state pre-emption, and municipalities like Deerfield and Highland Park who have banned possession of certain classes of firearms. If you’re a gun owner, get ready because reality is coming down hard. Don’t expect NRA or ISRA to save you either.
- Leslie K - Tuesday, May 15, 18 @ 10:02 pm:
===Are they going to inspect nights and weekends?===
Please read the bill: “Licensees shall have their places of business open for inspection by the Department and law enforcement during all hours of operation, provided that the Department or law enforcement may conduct no more than one unannounced inspection per business per year without good cause.”
As RNUG points out, responsible dealers are largely already meeting the requirements.
It’s the bad actors (admittedly, not the only source of illegal guns in Illinois, but certainly a source) that should start to worry.
- Gene Ralno - Wednesday, May 16, 18 @ 8:44 am:
Hoo boy, this’ll catch a buncha’ criminals.