It’s just a bill
Thursday, Jan 17, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Maybe if Rep. McCombie had filed a bill like this last year, she could’ve had an impact before it passed by building a bipartisan coalition. But to file it hours after the horse ran through the open barn door is likely too late…
State Representative Tony McCombie (IL-71st) today filed House Bill 367, common sense legislation that will effectively target gun dealers who have proven to be the “bad actors” on the same day Governor Pritzker signed unnecessary legislation into law. Governor Pritzker signing SB337 into law threatens the livelihood of current law abiding gun dealers and does nothing to promote public safety in Illinois.
“We should be focusing our efforts on causes and laws that already exists. My legislation will effectively target gun-dealers who are making it easier for criminals to illegally acquire firearms. I am a protector of the 2nd Amendment and believe we must have rational approaches that will put our safety and the people of Illinois first,” said Rep. McCombie. “Last week, Governor Pritzker extended his hand in a show of bipartisanship and I was cautiously optimistic. Legislatively, signing this bill is a bad beginning and will have unintended consequences. Burying the law abiding firearm dealers in paperwork, increasing their fees and taxes may put them out of business and could increase the illegal sales of weapons. This legislation does nothing to create a safer Illinois.”
House Bill 367 states, if and only, Senate Bill 337 becomes law, the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act would apply only to Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) who have been found by the federal or state government to have three or more firearms used in the commission of criminal offenses sold or transferred by the licensee within 5 years prior to the application for certification.
This legislation would protect law abiding FFLs by concentrating efforts on stopping those that are not adhering to the current laws. According to the 2017 Gun Trace Report, there are two source dealers, Chuck’s Gun Shop (Riverdale, IL) and Midwest Sporting Goods (Lyons, IL), who are the retail source of more than one in ten crime guns recovered in Chicago.
- JoanP - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
Y’know, whenever someone describes a proposal as “common sense legislation”, my bs meter starts to beep.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 3:03 pm:
–But to file it hours after the horse ran through the open barn door is likely too late…–
And probably the objective.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
I’m sorry, I know this is a very important issue but I don’t read a whole lot of state legislator press releases - do state reps usually leave their party affiliation off of press releases? Tony McCombie (IL-71st)? Is it common to leave out the (R)? That looks…..odd.
- Nagidam - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
Rich,
The identical bill to this one was filed by Rep. Ives last year as HB5908. Ives filed it the day after House amendment #1 to SB337 was filed.
- Not It - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 3:56 pm:
Ives? Ives who? Rings a bell but can’t remember why.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 3:59 pm:
This is like watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail - the battle is won step aside, we’ll call it a draw.
- Leigh John-Ella - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 4:09 pm:
Her bill only affects people who were found to be bad actors today, Jan. 17, 2019? Because that’s what her release says.
“legislation that will effectively target gun dealers who have proven to be the “bad actors” on the same day Governor Pritzker signed unnecessary legislation into law”
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 4:30 pm:
===The identical bill to this one was filed by Rep. Ives===
Yeah, she filed it on May 29th, two days before the end of session. Great work there.
- VerySmallRocks - Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 4:50 pm:
This appears to be a sop to red county gun “enthusiasts”, mollifying the GOP base, while not having a real clue how to put together a successful coalition. Having said that, the new administratiin better come out of the gate with some serious economic development offerings for Central and Southern Illinois to offset.