Gun Violence Safety Issues and Proposed Legislation
LOCAL
1. The Consent Decree (with the Dept. of Justice): Since the Consent Decree took effect on March 1, 2019, the city of Chicago has spent $15 million on it, while the Chicago Police Department (CPD)has fulfilled only six percent of its requirements. The CPD is in preliminary compliance with 50% of the court order, which means it has finalized written policies addressing those items. It is in secondary compliance with 29% of the court order, which means a majority of officers have been trained on these issues. Originally, it was thought the reforms to the CPD’s policies, training, and practices would be completed within three years. That timeline has been extended to 2027.
Action: For the public comment period of the April meetings of the Chicago Police District Councils, we suggest a statement or question along the lines of: I am concerned that the consent decree has only been partially fulfilled after so much time. It is important for community and officer safety and smooth communication that the consent decree requirements all be completed. Please pay careful attention to this matter and push for continued action. If you are unable to attend the meeting, Council members take input by email too.
2. COPA: Chief Administrator of the Chicago Office of Police Accountability Andrea Kirsten recently resigned to avoid being fired and was accused of “allegations of anti-police bias.” The Chicago Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is currently searching nationwide to replace her. Mayor Johnson recently appointed LaKenya White as the interim director of COPA. She has 25 years of experience in various police oversight roles, including eight years with COPA. Nonetheless, a permanent director must be appointed.
Action: Contact the CCPSA at the address or phone number below to tell them that this appointment must be made immediately.
3. Police District Councils: The PDCs are established in each of the Chicago Police Department’s 22 districts and they each meet monthly. CWTA would like to have at least one of its members attend the meetings in each of the districts.
Action: Type in Chicago Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability or call the number below to find the Police District you live in and information about each of the Councils. Contact Jane Ramsey (janeramsey27@gmail. com) or D. Clancy (d.clancy1310@gmail.com) to let them know which Police District Council meetings you will attend.
STATE
1. Protect Illinois Communities Act passed in January of 2023 banned specific assault weapons. A federal judge in East St. Louis found the ban unconstitutional. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the ban indefinitely while the case continues through the courts. It may eventually end up at the Supreme Court.
Action: Keep up-to-date through gun violence prevention groups or the media as this issue makes its way through the courts.
2. FOID Card: Three bills are currently before the legislature. HB19 would require a Firearms Owners ID to buy a flamethrower. HB36 would require fingerprints to be given to get a FOID;current legislation says they may be required. HB1318 would require a FOID card to be renewed every 10 years and a concealed carry of firearms permit every five years on the owner’s birthday.
Action: Contact your Illinois State Representative to ask her or him to co-sponsor or at least support these bills. To find your state representative, type in your address at www.changeil.org
3. HB3320: The proposed Responsibility in Firearm Legislation Act proposes shifting the cost of gun violence from communities to gun manufacturers.
Action: Contact your Illinois State Representative to ask him or him to co-sponsor this legislation or at least support it.
One Aim Illinois
Our gun violence prevention allies at One Aim Illinois ask us to support the bills below they’re advocating for. CWTA is part of this coalition.
Action: Please contact your state legislators to ask them to support and co-sponsor these bills.
1. The Safe at Home bill (SB 8/HB 3688) is assigned to the house judiciary committee and the senate executive committee. Great news from this coalition - we beat the opposition on slips for the house judicial committee. We have great momentum. The next step is to ask your lawmakers to co-sponsor.
2. The Homicide Data Transparency Bill (HB 1710/SB 1587) was voted out of the house judiciary committee last week and the senate criminal law this week. The coalition outslipped the opponents. Continue to email your lawmakers to support this bill. Needs at least 60 co-sponsors to be called up for a House floor vote https://secure.everyaction.com/JujQtRRl8UWsG3S-UA4c9Q2
3. The Homicide Victims Families Rights Act (HB3632 /SB 1300) was assigned to committees in both chambers. Continue to email your lawmakers to support this bill. Thcoalition outslipped the opponents. https://secure.everyaction.com/im_7UFemgEyNH6XgmWGUAg2
4. HB 1373/ SB 147 (Tarver/Cunningham) has been voted out of committees in both chambers and is referred to the House floor. This bill, championed by the Attorney General, requires law enforcement departments to submit their ballistic data to NIBIN and ETrace.
5. HB 1316 - will be voted out of the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee, taking place now. It will be referred to the floor. A bipartisan bill Amending the School Code. Requires all school officials to immediately notify the office of the principal in the event that they: observe any person in possession of a firearm on school grounds; become aware of any person in possession of a firearm on school grounds; or become aware of any threat of gun violence on school grounds. If there is a report filed notifying a local law enforcement agency of any of such
6. HB 3688/SB8 updates Safe Storage laws. The current secure storage bills filed in the House and Senate are not full locking laws but rather an upgrade to existing Child Access Prevention laws. They primarily raise the age threshold from 14 to 18, add prohibited persons, and introduce untested language about individuals "at risk." However, these changes do little to improve the law’s effectiveness in preventing accidental or unintentional child shootings. A full locking law requires all firearms to be stored in a locked container or secured with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock to prevent unauthorized access. States with full locking laws have been more than twice as effective in reducing firearm-related incidents, and no constitutional challenges have been brought against them where enacted.
FEDERAL
First, the good news: In March, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 7-2 vote, upheld a ban that essentially prevents gun manufacturers from selling “ghost guns.” These are made from build-it-yourself kits (mostly sold online) that have no serial numbers and are untraceable.
1. Office of Gun Violence Prevention: President Donald Trump has shut down this office. In February, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn) and U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla) introduced the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act to establish a permanent office focused on gun violence prevention at the Department of Justice.
Action: Contact the President to tell him to reopen this office. Contact Senators Durbin and Duckworth to support Sen. Murphy’s bill. Contact your U.S. Representative to support Rep. Maxwell’s bill.
2. HR38 and SB65: These bills would create a federal mandate that would force every state to recognize every other states’ standards for a concealed and loaded gun in public–including states with weak or no standards at all.
Action: Contact Senators Durbin and Duckworth and your U.S. Representative to oppose these bills.
Contact Information
President of the United States: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.20500 Comments: 212-456-1111; Switchboard: 202-456-1414
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin: 711 Hart Senate Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-2152 230 S. Dearborn, Ste 3892, Chicago, IL 60604; 312-353-4952
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth:524 Hart Senate Bldg., Washington, D.C 20510; 202-224-2854 230 S. Dearborn, Ste. 3900, Chicago, IL 600604: 312-886-3506
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy: U.S.Representatives: Call 202-224-3121 to get contact information.
To find your or other U.S. Representatives’ contact information, call 202-224-3121.
Chicago Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
2 N. LaSalle St., Ste 960, Chicago, IL 60602 – 312-742-8888
Note: When you are asked to fill out a witness slip in support or opposition to proposed legislation in Illinois, please do so. It takes only a few minutes. Contact info will be included with the request.
