SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — In the Illinois state capitol Tuesday advocates, lawmakers and survivors of gun violence urged the passage of multiple bills they said will reduce deaths by firearms.
While holding photos of loved ones killed by guns, activists demanded the passage of one of the biggest proposals of this years session, SB8. This policy is the safe gun storage bill, which requires all firearms to be contained in locked storage if a minor or at risk person is in the same building.
State Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) championed the plan as it passed out of the Illinois Senate on partisan lines. With the bill in the House, the Democrat demanded state representatives to pass the proposal.
"Gun violence is the biggest killer of children in our state," Ellman said. "75% of school shootings are committed by guns within the home. SB8 will help save lives."
Another plan advocates hope to pass is a homicide report bill. Families who've lost loved ones often have their cases unsolved for decades according to advocates. They also said it's difficult to get updates from police, as there is no public portal.
The proposal would require all homicide cases to be easily accessible by the public on an online website. After three years of a homicide case becoming cold, a new member of law enforcement would be assigned to the case as a "new set of eyes."
A gun violence survivor and advocate Millie Burgos lost her 18 year old daughter Alexandria Imani Burgos from a stray gunshot. The mother said the homicide report policy could help grieving families move on.
"Alexandria's case remains unsolved unfortunately," Burgos said. "It's been almost 11 years and still there are no answers. My family and I live with that silence every single day."
Both of these plans have passed at least one chamber. These bills could be voted on by lawmakers before session ends May 31.
Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
