SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers left Springfield last week without addressing several plans that could prevent gun violence. Democrats and gun control advocates are not giving up their fight to make communities safer.
Many hoped gun control would be a major priority for lawmakers during veto session, but that period has come and gone. Now, lawmakers and advocates are determined to get guns out of the wrong hands during lame duck session in early January.
"When a firearm is involved in a situation of domestic violence, time is of the essence," said Amanda Pyron, Executive Director of the Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence. "Risk of intimate partner homicides increase 500% when abusers have access to a gun."
Survivors of domestic violence can currently ask for 18 different remedies when they seek an order of protection. One of those options requires the abuser's gun to be confiscated, and their FOID card is automatically suspended.
Yet, the guns are too often transferred to someone else with a valid FOID card in the home.
"This bill strengthens and clarifies the law to give clear guidance to domestic violence survivors, judges and law enforcement on how to apply for the firearm remedy, how judges can grant it and what law enforcement must do to remove a firearm once granted," Pyron said.
A separate bill could improve reporting requirements for lost and stolen firearms to crack down on guns trafficked to criminals and violent offenders. It would require firearm dealers to inform gun buyers of their obligation to report a lost or stolen gun at the time of purchase. The Illinois State Police could also be tasked with creating an online portal listing serial numbers of lost and stolen guns.
"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," said Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). "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."
Democratic lawmakers also hope to ban people from storing or leaving a gun outstand 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."
Lawmakers will return to the Capitol for lame duck session from January 2-7.
"It's plain and simple - these bills have the power to save lives," said Yolanda Androzzo, Executive Director of One Aim Illinois. "Every day our legislators don't act is another day that the most vulnerable among us are at a greater risk of firearm violence."
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