SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois state lawmakers have passed multiple bills in the past few years to address the rise in gun violence. Yet, survivors of gun violence and community organizations are asking the state to provide more resources and support.
Black Illinoisans are 37 times more likely to die from gun violence than white residents. Although Black boys and men account for roughly 6% of the state's population, One Aim Illinois reports that they comprise more than half of all gun homicide victims.
Community advocates participating in the annual One Aim Illinois coalition summit said young people are critical in preventing gun violence.
"We need to have those that are at the forefront, the ones that are most impacted, the ones that are ostracized and sort of the forgotten voices," said Monse Ayala, an organizer with Increase the Peace. "That's a lot of our young people. We need to have agency over how we are tackling this and what they need from us and how we can do better for them."
Advocates also said families deserve therapy, financial assistance and other resources after a loved one is killed. Ariel Rainey founded Hustle Mommies to lift up many families in Chicago.
"We've helped parents who buried their kids on Saturday and Monday they were back at work because they didn't have time to properly grieve or get the support because they have other kids, they have bills and there's not a lot of resources to really help," Rainey stressed. "That trauma is a completely different trauma from other traumas that people in marginalized communities actually experience."
Advocates said families deserve therapy, financial assistance and other resources after a loved one is killed in gun violence.
Black murders are also 23% less likely to be solved than murders of white people, according to Everytown For Gun Safety. Countless survivors of gun violence struggle with psychological and physical trauma when shootings remain unsolved.
Democratic lawmakers hope to pass a plan this spring to allow immediate family members to petition law enforcement to review unsolved murders after three years of inactivity.
"When I drafted this piece of legislation, initially it was to try and find some ways to provide recourse and closure to families who have suffered the ultimate consequence of their loved ones no longer being there especially as we think about this during the holiday season," said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago).
Buckner said families and communities cannot heal until they receive proper updates on cold cases. He argued that law enforcement must be held accountable and work hand-in-hand with minority communities to solve longstanding cases.
Buckner explained he first filed a proposal to address the rights of homicide victims' families in 2019, but many of his colleagues weren't interested in moving the plan forward until 2023. House Bill 1210 gained support from 14 other Democrats, but the plan never left the House Rules Committee.
Lawmakers will return to Springfield to start the 2024 spring session on January 16.
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