Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
Well, we knew he'd be back. Daley once again wants to force his family's (and his cronies') views on guns down the throat of the rest of the state.
I would encourage all Illinois residents to do your best to make it to the ISRA Lobbying Day on February 23! Showing up when they bring these bills to committee is certainly good, but those dates are under the control of the other side. All they have to do is change the scheduled date, time, or bills to appear and they can play with us. On the ISRA LD you WILL get to go see your legislator and wander the capitol committing random acts of education.
CITIES STRIKING BACK
AGAINST GUN SELLERS WHO ARM CRIMINALS
Illinois Also Seeks State Assault Weapons Ban; Chicago Police Seeing Flood of Such Weapons Since Federal Ban Lapsed
For Immediate Release:
01-05-2005 Contact Communications:
(202) 898-0792
Washington, D.C. - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley today urged the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation that would help make it harder for criminals to arm themselves because of reckless behavior by gun sellers. The introduction of the legislation comes the same day the New York City Council passed a bill to try to dry up the criminal gun market that supplies New York City criminals.
The proposals in Illinois, and the bill awaiting Mayor Michael Bloomberg's signature in New York City, are part of a growing movement to hold gun sellers legally responsible for reckless conduct that supplies the illegal gun market. Last year, in three separate lawsuits, negligent gun sellers paid a combined total of $4.4 million in damages to gun violence victims.
The Illinois proposal also includes a state ban on assault weapons, which would provide some level of protection to Illinois residents now that Congress and President Bush allowed the federal assault weapons ban to expire. Mayor Daley revealed today that Chicago police have recovered 119 assault weapons from criminals since the federal ban was lifted. The New York bill stiffens penalties for violating the city's existing assault weapons ban.
"As a family member of a homicide victim, I'm thrilled that the Mayor is giving such serious attention to this issue and has made it a top priority," said Bill Jenkins, of the North Suburban (Chicago) chapter of the Million Mom March.
"The criminals in New York City are committing their crimes with guns that were sold elsewhere - but sometimes, the seller had a pretty good idea that the gun was destined for use in crime," said Edie Smith, President of the Manhattan (NY) Million Mom March chapter. "I'm glad my city is taking steps to close down the criminal gun pipeline by holding reckless gun sellers accountable."
The state and local efforts to ensure reckless gun dealers are held accountable, however, are moving forward under a cloud. Gun lobby allies in the U.S. Congress are expected to press hard over the coming weeks for passage of a federal law that would immunize the most reckless gun dealers from lawsuits. Such a federal statute would pre-empt state courts from granting relief to gun violence victims.
Brady Campaign President Mike Barnes praised the efforts in Illinois and New York. "Mayor Daley and the leaders in the Illinois General Assembly and Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council in New York deserve the gratitude of the people they serve for standing up for the rights of victims and proposing key steps to stop the flow of guns to killers," Barnes said. "Meanwhile in Washington, leaders in both the House and the Senate want to make it easier for criminals to access firearms by protecting the worst-behaving individuals in the gun industry from being held accountable."
"The tide is turning in America, and smart leaders are going to be fighting to make it harder for the bad guys to get guns," said Sarah Brady, Chair of the Brady Campaign united with the Million Mom March. "Now, if only President Bush and Congress will take a more common sense approach to these issues, we'll make real progress."
The Illinois legislation would make it an offense to sell guns without taking reasonable precautions to ensure that they are not used illegally, permit victims of gun violence and their families to sue gun dealers who knew, or should have known, that a sale was illegal or that the buyer intended to use the firearms unlawfully, require state licenses for gun dealers, require background checks on gun purchasers at gun shows, limit handgun purchases in the state to one per month to discourage sales into the criminal marketplace, and institute the statewide assault weapons ban. In unveiling the legislative package, Mayor Daley was joined by State Representatives Deborah Graham and Edward Acevedo as well as Senator Mattie Hunter.
The New York City Council bill, which Mayor Bloomberg has pledged to sign, also limits handgun purchases to one per month, requires background checks at gun shows and ensures access to the courts to gun violence victims if a gun seller has refused to follow a voluntary code of conduct. City Council member David Yassky was the principal sponsor of the measures.
The Illinois General Assembly will convene on January 12.
Sen. Mattie Hunter
611C Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-5966
2008 South Wabash
Chicago, IL 60616
773-624-2004
Rep. Edward Acevedo
109 Capitol
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-2855
2439 South Oakley
Chicago, IL 60608
773-843-1200
Rep. Deborah Graham
266-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-6400
6101 1/2 West North Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
708-445-9520
I would encourage all Illinois residents to do your best to make it to the ISRA Lobbying Day on February 23! Showing up when they bring these bills to committee is certainly good, but those dates are under the control of the other side. All they have to do is change the scheduled date, time, or bills to appear and they can play with us. On the ISRA LD you WILL get to go see your legislator and wander the capitol committing random acts of education.
CITIES STRIKING BACK
AGAINST GUN SELLERS WHO ARM CRIMINALS
Illinois Also Seeks State Assault Weapons Ban; Chicago Police Seeing Flood of Such Weapons Since Federal Ban Lapsed
For Immediate Release:
01-05-2005 Contact Communications:
(202) 898-0792
Washington, D.C. - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley today urged the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation that would help make it harder for criminals to arm themselves because of reckless behavior by gun sellers. The introduction of the legislation comes the same day the New York City Council passed a bill to try to dry up the criminal gun market that supplies New York City criminals.
The proposals in Illinois, and the bill awaiting Mayor Michael Bloomberg's signature in New York City, are part of a growing movement to hold gun sellers legally responsible for reckless conduct that supplies the illegal gun market. Last year, in three separate lawsuits, negligent gun sellers paid a combined total of $4.4 million in damages to gun violence victims.
The Illinois proposal also includes a state ban on assault weapons, which would provide some level of protection to Illinois residents now that Congress and President Bush allowed the federal assault weapons ban to expire. Mayor Daley revealed today that Chicago police have recovered 119 assault weapons from criminals since the federal ban was lifted. The New York bill stiffens penalties for violating the city's existing assault weapons ban.
"As a family member of a homicide victim, I'm thrilled that the Mayor is giving such serious attention to this issue and has made it a top priority," said Bill Jenkins, of the North Suburban (Chicago) chapter of the Million Mom March.
"The criminals in New York City are committing their crimes with guns that were sold elsewhere - but sometimes, the seller had a pretty good idea that the gun was destined for use in crime," said Edie Smith, President of the Manhattan (NY) Million Mom March chapter. "I'm glad my city is taking steps to close down the criminal gun pipeline by holding reckless gun sellers accountable."
The state and local efforts to ensure reckless gun dealers are held accountable, however, are moving forward under a cloud. Gun lobby allies in the U.S. Congress are expected to press hard over the coming weeks for passage of a federal law that would immunize the most reckless gun dealers from lawsuits. Such a federal statute would pre-empt state courts from granting relief to gun violence victims.
Brady Campaign President Mike Barnes praised the efforts in Illinois and New York. "Mayor Daley and the leaders in the Illinois General Assembly and Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council in New York deserve the gratitude of the people they serve for standing up for the rights of victims and proposing key steps to stop the flow of guns to killers," Barnes said. "Meanwhile in Washington, leaders in both the House and the Senate want to make it easier for criminals to access firearms by protecting the worst-behaving individuals in the gun industry from being held accountable."
"The tide is turning in America, and smart leaders are going to be fighting to make it harder for the bad guys to get guns," said Sarah Brady, Chair of the Brady Campaign united with the Million Mom March. "Now, if only President Bush and Congress will take a more common sense approach to these issues, we'll make real progress."
The Illinois legislation would make it an offense to sell guns without taking reasonable precautions to ensure that they are not used illegally, permit victims of gun violence and their families to sue gun dealers who knew, or should have known, that a sale was illegal or that the buyer intended to use the firearms unlawfully, require state licenses for gun dealers, require background checks on gun purchasers at gun shows, limit handgun purchases in the state to one per month to discourage sales into the criminal marketplace, and institute the statewide assault weapons ban. In unveiling the legislative package, Mayor Daley was joined by State Representatives Deborah Graham and Edward Acevedo as well as Senator Mattie Hunter.
The New York City Council bill, which Mayor Bloomberg has pledged to sign, also limits handgun purchases to one per month, requires background checks at gun shows and ensures access to the courts to gun violence victims if a gun seller has refused to follow a voluntary code of conduct. City Council member David Yassky was the principal sponsor of the measures.
The Illinois General Assembly will convene on January 12.
Sen. Mattie Hunter
611C Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-5966
2008 South Wabash
Chicago, IL 60616
773-624-2004
Rep. Edward Acevedo
109 Capitol
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-2855
2439 South Oakley
Chicago, IL 60608
773-843-1200
Rep. Deborah Graham
266-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-6400
6101 1/2 West North Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
708-445-9520