* From late last month…
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords joined Illinois leaders Thursday to launch the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition to urge the state’s leaders to curb the flow of illegal guns into the state.
The Gun Dealer Licensing Act would give authorities the tools to encourage better business practices among federally licensed gun dealers and hold corrupt dealers accountable.
From 2009 to 2013, 40 percent of the guns used in crimes in Chicago came from gun dealers within Illinois. But the group says legal loopholes and a lack of enforcement resources allow illegal guns to be more readily available.
* Sen. Don Harmon…
“Gun store employees often have access to huge inventories of guns and it’s just common sense to make sure the dealers and employees are just as responsible as the buyers.”
* From the Illinois State Rifle Association…
HB1016 WOULD SPELL THE DEATH OF GUN SHOPS IN ILLINOIS
This bill is nothing more than a backdoor effort to eliminate private firearm ownership in Illinois. If passed, HB1016 would heap tons of regulations, red tape, and restrictions on firearm retailers. Most gun shops would go out of business immediately. Those who survived the first cut would have to hire extra staff and raise prices drastically just to remain in compliance with the new law. New gun shops would be barred from opening, thanks to complicated licensing requirements. It would be just a matter of a few short months before there would be no gun shops in Illinois.
The proposal is here. I’m told an amendment is coming that would allow employees who have FOID cards to be exempted from the background checks.
Also, requirements to videotape the premises have applied to pawn shops for years.
* And the idea appears to be very popular among voters. From a We Ask America poll commissioned by proponents taken May 19th of 1,052 registered voters with a 3.02% margin of error…
There is currently a proposal in the state legislature to require firearms dealers to adopt certain business practices that will help prevent dangerous people from buying guns…like criminals, gang members, and domestic abusers. We’d like to know whether you agree, or disagree with each of the follow measures contained in that proposal.
Let’s start with requiring all firearms dealers to adopt basic store security measures.
Agree 90.10%
Disagree 6.37%
Not sure 3.52%
How do you feel about requiring all employees of firearms dealers to get criminal background checks?
How do feel about requiring all employees of firearms dealers to receive training on how to spot a person who may be purchasing a gun for someone who cannot legally buy one themselves?
Do you agree that all gun dealers should be licensed by the state?
Agree 85.54%
Disagree 9.80%
Not sure 4.66%
Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports these measures?
More likely 79.35%
Less likely 8.37%
No difference 12.27%
79 percent is a number that can move voters. This is gonna be difficult to defend against. Although the “more likely to vote for” number is lower (66 percent) among Downstate voters, according to the crosstabs. But even 72 percent of self-identified gun owners and 73 percent of R3 voters said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports those measures. That’s also enough to move voters.
