Democratic lawmakers renew calls for safe firearm storage, stolen gun reporting bills

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gun control could be a top priority for state lawmakers during veto session next month. Democratic leaders are determined to get guns out of the wrong hands.

The Gun Violence Prevention PAC told reporters in Chicago Thursday that lost guns are three times more likely to be used in crimes and stolen guns are nine times as likely.

Democratic lawmakers want to improve reporting requirements for lost and stolen firearms to crack down on guns trafficked to criminals and violent offenders.

"The bill sets clear expectations for responsible behavior by requiring gun owners to report stolen firearms within 48 hours, emphasizing the importance of being responsible for that firearm," said Rep. Kevin Olickal (D-Skokie). "It also ensures law enforcement quickly realize these guns are missing and are able to greatly improve their changes of preventing that weapon from being used in a crime."

The plan could require dealers to inform gun buyers of their obligation to report a lost or stolen gun at the time of purchase. It also calls on the Illinois State Police to create an online portal listing the serial numbers of lost and stolen guns.

"In the state of Illinois, out of 13 million people, 2.5 million people hold FOID cards," said Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). "That means almost one out of every five people hold a FOID card which allows them to possess a firearm. So, this is not a small issue."

A separate bill could ban people from storing or leaving a gun outside an owner's possession or control unless it is unloaded and secured in a lock box. The legislation specifically notes that minors, at-risk people and those prohibited from using guns should not be able to access firearms in the home.

"It is clear that we must address child access to firearms and safe storage," said Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia). "Guns have surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death of our children ages one to 17 years old."

Gun owners could face a fine of $500 to $1,000 if someone prohibited from accessing guns obtains their weapon. The bill would also create a $10,000 penalty if a minor or at-risk person uses someone else's gun to injure or kill people.

"We need to ensure that all of our gun owners are responsible and they know what they need to do to keep everybody safe, including our youth," Villivalam said. "I have a six-year-old. I have a three-year-old. I want them to be safe. I want every youth regardless of the community they live in, but especially those communities that have been disinvested in, to feel safe."

Lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Capitol for veto session November 12-14 and 19-21.

"The Safe At Home legislation will address the sobering realities that today there are more guns in our country than people and every one in three children lives in a home with a gun," said Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of G-PAC. "There is mounting evidence that the risk of unintentional shootings, mass shootings and suicide can be significantly reduced if we make simple changes in our laws to keep us all safe at home."