Safe gun storage bill passes out of the Illinois Senate on partisan lines

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A plan to require guns to be stored in safe storage when minors could be around passed the Illinois Senate Thursday.

If a minor or a prohibited person gains access to the firearm that wasn't safely stored, the gun owner could be fined up to $1,000. If that person kills someone with that firearm, the fine is bumped up to $10,000.

It would also change the time limit for gun owners to report lost or stolen guns from 72 hours to 48 hours. If that gun owner fails to report the lost or stolen gun on time, Illinois State Police can revoke their FOID card.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) said in Grand Crossing Chicago, a boy found an unattended loaded gun in their, accidentally shooting and killing his friend.

"If this was in the law more than three weeks ago, Josiah Hooker would be here with us today," Villivalam said.

All GOP state Senators opposed the bill. State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Aledo) said a Supreme Court ruling made it so only judges can revoke FOID cards, not police.

"You're taking away a fundamental right given to us by our creator and you're giving that ability to police and not the courts as its been ruled over and over again," Anderson said.

The plan passed the Senate on a partisan 33-19 vote. It now heads to the House floor for further debate.