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* Press release…
State Senators Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), John Curran (R-Downers Grove), Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), Steve McClure (R-Springfield), and Brian Stewart (R-Freeport) today unveiled a package of legislation specifically designed to empower law enforcement and other members of the community to take on the crime wave that has enveloped the state.
The legislative package includes:
Fund the Police Act
· SB 2918: Creates Fund the Police Grant Fund with $100,000,000 with appropriations to the ILETSB to make grants to local governments and universities to hire police officers, purchasing equipment designed to prevent gang violence, motor vehicle theft, carjacking, or sale of contraband, and training for law enforcement in preventing gang violence, motor vehicle theft, carjacking, or the sale of contraband. This includes mental health, hiring and retention incentives, and overtime.
Eliminate Good Time for Weapons Offenses and Attacks on Law Enforcement Officers
· SB 2916: Requires a defendant who commits Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.
· SB 2917: Requires a defendant who brings a weapon or contraband into a penal institution serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.
Ending Deadly Delay
· SB 2927: Requires Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to track gun crimes by convicted felons. Amended to include real time reporting by county of gun offenses charged and outcome of the case.
· SB 2926: Gun Crime Charging and Sentencing Accountability and Transparency Act. Requires State’s Attorneys to provide written justification when a weapons offense is plea bargained down to a lesser offense or non-weapons offense. Similarly, in imposing a sentence, the judge shall set forth in a written sentencing order his/her reasons for imposing the sentence or accepting the plea agreement.
· SB 2924: Allows a school or school district to employ qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry out the duties of a school resource officer.
Getting Serious on Gun Crime:
· SB 2928: ‘10 and life’ for violent firearms offenses. First time conviction of the following offenses receives a mandatory 10-year sentence, second offense receives life sentence.
o Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm.o Use of a stolen or illegally acquired firearm in the commission of an offense.
o Unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons.
o Armed Habitual Criminal.
o Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, or Aggravated Carjacking.
· SB 2925: Mandatory minimum penalty for Gun trafficking/Straw purchases. Imposes a 10-year minimum on those who sell or give a firearm to a convicted felon.
Juvenile Court Reforms:
· SB 2929: Juvenile commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice for use or discharge of a firearm in a school that results in bodily injury or death to any person.
· SB 2923: Restore offenses of aggravated vehicular hijacking and armed robbery committed by juveniles with a firearm to the automatic transfer provisions of adult court.
· SB 2922: Prevent “catch and release” of juvenile carjackers by requiring a shelter care hearing to determine if it is safe to release the juvenile or continue holding until the adjudicatory hearing.
Bail Reform:
· SB 2020: Deny bail for previously convicted gun offenders or a felon charged with a gun offense.
· SB 2921: Adds violation of bail bond, escape, and aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude to the more serious “Category A” bond provisions.
· SB 2919: Allows counties to opt out of Bail Reform Act provisions if county board adopts a resolution to do so.
Mental Health Reform:
SB 1649: Amends the Community Mental Health Act. Provides that upon receipt of all the annual moneys collected from the tax levied under the Act, each governmental unit that levies that tax shall immediately deposit 20% of those moneys into a special fund directly controlled by the county sheriff to be used for mental health services within the county jail.
“The people of Illinois need action right now,” said Rose. “We are demanding that Senate President Harmon (D-Oak Park) call these bills for a full vote of the Senate this veto session.”
All bills have been filed and language can be found here. The legislation will show up www.ilga.gov after the next perfunctory session.
* From Mark Maxwell’s story…
In addition to calling for $100 million in funding for police training, overtime, and retention incentives, Rose wants to make the sentencing guidelines stricter and simpler for criminals convicted on felony gun charges. His proposal would impose 10-year sentences for first-time felony firearm offenders, and a life sentence for repeat offenders.
“I wish it was that simple,” Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz responded. “I don’t think we need any stiffer penalties.”
Rietz said it’s often a lack of hard evidence, not lenient laws, that allows violent criminals to go free. She called for greater resources to fund street surveillance cameras and lab equipment to process evidence. […]
She described difficult cases with scant evidence as a “poker game” where the suspect is playing a hand and betting the government doesn’t have a strong case. She scoffed at Rose’s proposal that would require prosecutors to show their hand and justify any plea bargains in writing, warning such a requirement could backfire and put cooperating witnesses in harm’s way.
Rose said his plan would “require any State’s Attorney in this state who plea bargains down a gun crime to put it in writing so the citizens who elect them will be able to hold them accountable for the decisions they made.”
“He should know better,” Rietz said, referring to Rose’s prior work as a traffic court prosecutor.
“I was a prosecutor and I wouldn’t have liked that at the time,” Rose acknowledged, “but you know what, it’s the right thing to do. People are sick and tired of the plea bargain nonsense that’s leaving people to shoot buses on our streets.”
Except nobody has even been arrested in the school bus shooting incident.
First, you gotta catch ‘em.
Also, none of the bills were amended onto existing legislation, which would make their passage difficult in the veto session even if the majority wanted to go along. And the majority obviously does not…
Rose’s plan would allow counties to opt out of ending cash bail if the county board adopts a resolution supporting it. That plan was not well-received by Senate Democrats, who hold a supermajority in the chamber.
“This is not a solution,” Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) responded. “This is dog whistle politics from people who just like to round up poor people. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
* From the governor’s office…
Since taking office, Governor Pritzker has worked to rebuild the hollowed out government left by his predecessor Bruce Rauner. Over the last three years, the state has invested record amounts of funding into gun violence prevention programs, increased investments in social services like mental health and substance abuse treatment and prioritized investments in communities grappling with higher crime rates because of years of disinvestment. On top of rebuilding our social safety net, the budgets signed by Gov. Pritzker have provided hundreds of millions of additional dollars to local governments to support communities. Those same budgets, that Republicans voted against, included funding for multiple new cadet classes to help Illinois State Police restore their hollowed out ranks. A new crime lab that will provide quicker evidence processing is being built with Rebuild Illinois funding signed into law by Gov. Pritzker. Republicans voted against increased funding for training and mental health assistance for officers across the state and have opposed criminal justice reforms that will make our criminal justice system equitable. Spewing rhetoric is easy, taking the votes to support the public policy you claim to care about are what matter. The Senate Republicans have shown us time and time again they care more about getting headlines than supporting solutions.
*** UPDATE *** From the Senate Republicans…
Sen. Rose and his colleagues just unveiled several actual solutions to the current uptick in violent crime with actual legislation filed in the General Assembly – not the media. If the Administration and Democratic Majorities are truly serious about addressing violent crime in Illinois, they can prove it by calling for the package to be heard in committee and voted on in the General Assembly this month. While they may not agree with all proposals, allowing the bills to be heard is an opportunity for both Democrats and Republicans to discuss and debate solutions to these very real problems. As they said, spewing rhetoric is easy, taking the votes to support public policy you claim to care about are what matter.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 8:51 am
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Clearly what’s needed are harsher penalties for crimes, not to try to prevent people from feeling the desire to commit them in the first place! /s
Comment by Techie Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 8:55 am
Welcome to the Mid 90’s GOP Get Tough on Crime Platform. Standby for the announcement that Gwenn Klinger and Larry Bomke are committed to building a prison in every GOP district.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:01 am
How about adding 5-10 strikes and your out? Good conversation to have. The catch and release with no consequences is adding up. Keep it simple. Illegal gun = major jail time. Repeat offenders = tens of years.
Comment by Illegal gun means long sentence Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:01 am
Rose is skilled in bloviating. Not so skilled in legislating. This is going nowhere…he knows that and doesn’t particularly care.
Having said that, the Democrats would be wise to develop some sort of legislative agenda of their own related to crime. This is obviously going to be the main line of attack against their suburban targets.
Comment by TNR Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:02 am
What equipment is “designed to prevent gang violence?”
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:02 am
Maybe Senator Rose should be asked if he supports long prison terms for those that attack Public Buildings. I can think of one attack in particular.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:05 am
“Democrats would be wise to develop…”
Chicago Mayor and Cook County States attorney can’t even agree on who should be charged for crimes. I’m not sure there’s enough unity among Democrats to accomplish anything on this front.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:05 am
The “explain your reasoning” requirement for State’s attorneys is likely unconstitutional. This Supreme Court of Illinois has ruled that a statute which purported to require judges to state their reasons for imposing a particular sentence violated the separation of powers clause. People v. Davis 93 ill.2d 155. State’s attorneys are Executive Branch. (There’s an Ill Sup Ct case stating that plainly). They can’t force explanation of prosecutorial discretion.
Comment by Miso Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:06 am
===the Democrats would be wise to develop some sort of legislative agenda of their own related to crime.===
Spring Session sounds like a good time for that, closer to the primary and get the GOP on the record too, like the ethics reform that many GOPers were “against”
To the post,
===Those same budgets, that Republicans voted against, included funding for multiple new cadet classes to help Illinois State Police restore their hollowed out ranks. A new crime lab that will provide quicker evidence processing is being built with Rebuild Illinois funding signed into law by Gov. Pritzker. Republicans voted against increased funding for training and mental health assistance for officers across the state and have opposed criminal justice reforms that will make our criminal justice system equitable.===
Republican members are already against… new cadet classes for ISP…
The thing about holding accountable legislators for votes, can, here with the SGOP and McConchie, and also with Durkin, have the dollars available to try to make hay about crime?
I mean Harmon will have all that labor money he covets to use…
Spring Session will be interesting for the Super-Majorities abd the governor as they control not only narratives but legislative successes that will likely have limited GOP support so Republicans “can own the libs”… like with ethics reform.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:10 am
Once they appear on ILGA, the SGOP proposals will carry their official title:
The Ken Griffin Please Finance Our Campaigns Act.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:13 am
===I’m not sure there’s enough unity among Democrats to accomplish anything on this front.===
Legislating and preparing for campaigns is far different in unity than trying to facilitate prosecutions or running the 3rd largest city in America.
“We’ll see”
Keeping the suburbs neutral on Dem/GOP takes on crime is a net positive for Dems, as crime in the Ogden and Fry poll had crime… 4th out of 5 issues for the polled to choose.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:14 am
Looks like Lumpy & Co want to hike city and county real estate taxes with this stunt. Smooth
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:29 am
They should call it Operation Broken Record.
Comment by Southern Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:30 am
Chicago already has more cops per capita than any other city of comparable size- about 1 for every 220 residents - and more in absolute terms than any city other than New York, which is about 4 times as large.
If the size of the department is the issue, how big does CPD have to get to solve the problem?
Comment by Actual Red Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:31 am
We can’t even effectively take guns away from people on criminal charges with FOID cards because local law enforcement doesn’t seem interested in it.
This bill seems to be making a pretty straight forward effort to associate gun violence exclusively with gang activity.
===Allows a school or school district to employ qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry out the duties of a school resource officer. ===
On a serious policy concern, if they’re not an active member of a police force and they’re just a retired cop, where exactly are their police powers coming from? The school district? Who is footing the insurance and shouldering the liability for having an armed “used to be a cop” on campus?
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:37 am
===If the size of the department is the issue, how big does CPD have to get to solve the problem? ===
It takes a lot of effort to frame, torture, and harass innocent people for being non-white on top of police duties.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:38 am
=Keeping the suburbs neutral on Dem/GOP takes on crime is a net positive for Dems, as crime in the Ogden and Fry poll had crime… 4th out of 5 issues for the polled to choose.=
And if this issue was 4th out of 5 issues in the O&F poll of Republican voters, where might it rank in a poll of Democratic voters. Because with the angry, rural, white voter the issue is already baked in. The goal here has to be to convince suburban educated voters that there’s an imminent crime threat AND the GOP has the answers to solving the problem. Seems like a tall order.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:39 am
I fully expect one of the major issues of the next election will be crime. These bills are intended to backstop that for the GOP.
We’ll see how is plays out in about 13 months.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:41 am
For all those who think they know what they are talking about…the Dems put bills forth that have supposedly increased funding for ISP (n reality it was replacing the millions reduced from the “reformed traffic ticket system” that reduced over $3 million to police training in one year) and with it ending cash bail, reduced the ability of police to do their jobs, you are darn right the GOP voted against it. The Governor (and most of the Dem caucus for that matter) is one of the most disliked Governors in the history of this state by the law enforcement profession. Just ask any one of them. They actually read the 1000 page bills to see how badly they are getting screwed over. The fact is all Illinois Police Dept are trying to hire people without success after a historic number have either retired, quit, or went to work in another state Such as Iowa who appreciates their officers and passed additional laws to protect them instead of putting them further in danger. The Dems will not have the typical police union membership votes they have come to expect. You all can live under your rocks and think everything is good in Illinois but eventually crime finds you under there but then makes sure it rolls over and destroys your home. Don’t ever say you were not warned. There are huge consequences for every Dem bill passed, and they are not the good kind.
Comment by Palatine Pop Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:46 am
Where does the 100 mill come from?
Lemme guess, pension reform.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:48 am
“major issues of next election cycle will be crime”
Maybe, or:
“Senator Bailey where do you stand on a woman’s right to chose.”
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:50 am
Lots to look at but the county opt out provision seems reasonable. The circuit courts are run by chief judges of their respective counties and have almost complete control of their courtrooms and judges.
Comment by Chisox Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:51 am
===have almost complete control of their courtrooms and judges.===
Really, how so?
===woman’s right to chose.===
The state House and Senate GOP’s silence, collectively as caucuses and individually as members is quite the thing.
“Republicans are dangerous to women’s health” will be an issue, but this, and back to the post, crime issue, unless it can get 71 and 36 and a signature, during Veto, on its own.. spring seems to be more logical as a political ploy as the SGOP tries to make political hay… and my goodness, - Michelle Flaherty -, I laughed out loud. Chef kiss
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:56 am
- Chisox -
I misread. Apologies. That’s on me.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:57 am
I have a hard time accepting an increase in police funding. The recent reporting (in the Lancet) on deaths by police and in police custody are truly sobering. During the time studied )1980 to 2018 31,000 people were killed by police with over half miscategorized as as accidental. Many with cooperation of medical examiners.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:58 am
=Maybe Senator Rose should be asked if he supports long prison terms for those that attack Public Buildings. I can think of one attack in particular.=
Me To a federal court house in Seattle. . .
Comment by Todd Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:03 am
==the county opt out provision seems reasonable.==
Uh, no. How is it remotely constitutional to allow people accused of crimes to be incarcerated because of their access to money in some counties but not others?
Comment by charles in charge Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:05 am
==Maybe, or: “Senator Bailey where do you stand on a woman’s right to chose.”==
More like: “Senator Bailey, where do you stand on allowing anti-vax republicans to assault teachers and school board members over mask mandates?”. Or, “Senator Bailey, where do you stand on allowing anti-vax republicans to scream at little children while they’re walking into their school?” Betting on GOP activists to act normal long enough for political debates to center on our (very real) crime problems is wishful thinking.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:06 am
===Me To a federal court house in Seattle===
Stick to Illinois.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:13 am
No matter what happens these people have their campaigns set. Righteous outrage if not approved which can then be trumpeted for all crime related topics. If approved they have $100M in budgeted priority adjustments that have to be done for the good of the state. The fact it may not be needed or solve any issue does not overcome the political posturing.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:14 am
=== Me To a federal court house in Seattle. . . ===
Pretty sure nobody on the left outside of a very select few is okay with anybody attacking a federal court house. This isn’t the ‘gotcha’ you think it is…
Comment by Leap Day William. Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:17 am
Crime may be a major factor in the next election, but mostly for the GOP because that’s all they’ve got. Dems and moderates are going to be far more concerned with covid, the economy, personal rights, and such. You know, the exact opposite of the GOP priorities from the poll discussed here the other day.
Comment by Jibba Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:19 am
==Where does the 100 mill come from? Lemme guess, pension reform.==
JB recently enhanced pensions for Tier 2 police officers. So not there.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:19 am
Seems like a lot of after the crime has been committed stuff, rather than addressing the root causes. Or maybe they don’t care about that.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:21 am
Funny thing about press conferences they don’t actually accomplish anything. A political mailer saying GOP wanted this and Dems won’t do it doesn’t hold as much weight as Dem candidate X voted to increase ISP budget while Republicans voted against. Dem candidate voted to increase ISP budget to remove backlog of DNA in state crime lab while GOP candidate gutted the program under Bruce Rauner.
Voting against the budget opens you up politically far more than any presser or bill that doesn’t get out of rules.
Voted against breast cancer screenings, voted against human trafficking, voted against increased school funding (meaning property taxes have to go up) voted against etc etc etc. anything the budget funds the GOP voted against. Is this their first political campaign?
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:25 am
I understand some of the negative comments about CPD, but if I am being mugged, beaten, shot at or someone breaks into my home I gotta tell you I would rather have a Chicago Police Officer show up than any other law enforcement person including federal, state or county folks.
As to the post, not sure where these changes are going. It seems like we will have an election based on the choice between law and order rhetoric and crime increases are Rauner’s fault.
Historically a better education system and job opportunities seem like better paths to take than more lock ‘em noise from my friends in the GOP or the old blame game Pritzker seems to be playing.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:26 am
-Charles in Charge-
Explain how it is an 8th amendment violation-even judges in the same county will assess/assign bond and conditions of release vastly different. The Chief Judge and the voters of each county are a key part to this-the opt out provision allows them to maintain some discretion in these matters.
Comment by Chisox Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:29 am
== The goal here has to be to convince suburban educated voters that there’s an imminent crime threat AND the GOP has the answers to solving the problem. Seems like a tall order. ==
Maybe, but the GOP will have the media’s help in pushing this narrative. (“If it bleeds it ledes.”) Car jackings in Elmhurst are already the talk of DuPage County coffee shops and PTA meetings.
That’s why I think the Dems need an agenda. The GOP attacks might be intellectually dishonest, but they might also be effective.
Comment by TNR Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:36 am
=designed to empower law enforcement and other members of the community to take on the crime wave that has enveloped the state.=
What crime wave? I know there are issues in Chicago but is there an actual “crime wave” or is this just the super minority trying to scare country folk? My doors are unlocked and my keys are in my car.
PP, you seem pretty angry, but I wonder who elected you to speak for all police? I work closely with our local and county police. They don’t beef about the governor and this is a red county.
The whole cash bail issue is a canard. The SA’s can make a case for bail for serious crimes, if they don’t it is on them.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:57 am
==Explain how it is an 8th amendment violation==
Current bail practices are also ridden with due process, equal protection and speedy trial issues, hence the need for uniform statewide reform of those practices.
Comment by charles in charge Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:59 am
I look forward to reading the fiscal impact notes on these proposals.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 11:19 am
Back to the Future,
Really? Because all my interactions with the state police have been cordial. They don’t seem to have the innate hostility to the population that CPD does.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 11:35 am
there are some things in that list that are fine. but until both parties look at both causes of violence AND punishment for violence, we will not make the necessary progress. for the Rs one of the causes is the wide availability of guns. they aren’t doing much about that. and for the Dems, sure, most of the base does not care about doing more about the punishment side of the equation. But Independent voters do and nationally this issue is the issue going into 2022. Get smart, Dems.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 12:29 pm
=== … (n reality it was replacing the millions reduced from the “reformed traffic ticket system” that reduced over $3 million to police training in one year) … .===
Which was signed by Rauner, no?
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 12:32 pm
=== Where does the 100 mill come from? ===
Senator Durbin just witnessed a gun being shot while driving down Lake Shore Drive.
Senator Rose is concerned about a bus being shot at on Neil Street.
Suburbanites are concerned about cars being shot at on the Dan Ryan.
And Chicagoans are in fear of drive by shootings.
Perhaps Senator Durbin, Governor Pritzker, Mayor Lightfoot and Senator Rose should talk to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg about expediting a waiver to use transportation safety grants from the federal government for FOID card enforcement instead of seatbelt enforcement, and buying back guns instead of buying texting and driving ads.
I’d much rather Champaign County use its federal funding to round up illegally possessed weapons than ticket people for not wearing their seatbelt, and I am sure Senator Rose agrees.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 12:38 pm
==The fact is all Illinois Police Dept are trying to hire people without success after a historic number have either retired, quit, or went to work in another state Such as Iowa===
And take a huge pay cut, you left that part out.
Comment by All this Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 12:54 pm
=== … unveiled several actual solutions ===
LOL
Show me the performance data to demonstrate the success of these proposals. Then I’ll hear your suggestion about them being actual solutions.
What I see are same old get tough political rhetoric to gather votes. Nothing in their proposals will stem the flow of guns into Illinois.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 1:41 pm
Well, props to the Senate GOP staff for figuring out a workaround to posting all the language of the bills on their own website. It’s nice to be able to read all the bills before a perfunctory session.
Comment by Dan Johnson Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 1:49 pm
=== What I see are same old get tough political rhetoric to gather votes. Nothing in their proposals will stem the flow of guns into Illinois.===
Astute look at where the legislation is and what it wants to “be”.
Between - Norseman - and - Michelle Flaherty -… lol
To the update,
Getting votes on the record here, as prescribed, reads like…
“We don’t mind if it fails as long as you all vote no and we can hammer you later for it”
It reads ham-handed to the raw politics of Green, Red, and… Griffin’s green too.
I appreciate the honesty to “why” they want the votes, that’s refreshing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 1:50 pm
==until both parties look at both causes of violence AND punishment for violence, we will not make the necessary progress==
Please feel free to share any data you have to show that increasing penalties does anything whatsoever to reduce crime or violence. Or is it a strictly political point you’re making (e.g., some voters mistakenly believe that longer sentences reduce crime, so people who want to get elected should pander to those voters by ramping up penalties even if it’s bad policy)?
Comment by charles in charge Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 2:00 pm
Thomas Paine. Are you suggesting stop and frisk?
Comment by Blue Dog Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 2:16 pm
“JB recently enhanced pensions for Tier 2 police officers. So not there.”
Nope. That was firefighters.
Comment by 10spot Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 2:18 pm
@Blue Dog -
Nope.
I am talking about enforcing FOID card suspensions and revocations.
https://www.capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/foid-bill-strengthening-enforcement-for-revoked-cards-will-head-to-pritzker
Heck, Where there are problem gun dealers, lets pay an officer to sit in the parking lot and run every license plate.
We know that there are gun dealers that straw purchasers favor. Why are we waiting until someone is shot with that gun until we do something?
Republicans want to wait until someone gets shot with a gun to get it out of the wrong hands, that is a foolish approach.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 2:44 pm
The Press Pop - a Chapin Rose specialty.
Comment by filmmaker prof Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 2:53 pm
The “reformed traffic ticket system” went way beyond traffic and was part of the Access to Justice Act. A primary goal was to reduce the costs for people interacting with the justice system that had been raised over the years through many many bills to add fees for criminal and traffic offenses. And those were often used to fund programs that had no relation to the crimes or offenses.
Comment by Me2 Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:58 pm
== round up illegally possessed weapons ==
Still trying to figure out what this means. Even if you have an Illinois cop in the parking lot of an Indiana gun dealership, are you proposing they follow them home and surveil them until they make an illegal transfer to a buyer? That seems unreasonably resource intensive.
The only possible solution I see is to register all guns and their transfers. I suspect that would not go over well with the gunhumpers, though.
Comment by Narc Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 6:53 pm
“ Still trying to figure out what this means. Even if you have an Illinois cop in the parking lot of an Indiana gun dealership, are you proposing they follow them home and surveil them until they make an illegal transfer to a buyer?”
No silly. Run the plates and see if the driver of the car is a felon. Felons can’t buy guns, so what is he or she doing at a gun dealership?
Comment by Sling Friday, Oct 8, 21 @ 6:26 am