Americans for Responsible Solutions Applauds the Illinois House Judiciary -

[billh58]

Criminal Committee for Advancing Bill To Help Slow The Flow Of Illegal Guns In Illinois:

May 17, 2016 – Americans for Responsible Solutions, the national gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, and the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition today applauded the Illinois House Judiciary – Criminal Committee for advancing a new proposal, the Gun Dealer Licensing Act (HB 1016), to help slow the flow of illegal guns in Illinois, and urged legislators to act to save lives.

The bill, which was introduced earlier this month, would give state authorities and law enforcement the tools to encourage better business practices among federally licensed gun dealers and hold corrupt dealers accountable to slow the flow of illegal gun trafficking in Illinois and help keep guns out of the wrong hands. Read more about the Gun Dealer Licensing Act here.

Negligent gun dealers within Illinois fuel the illegal gun trade. From 2009 to 2013, 40 percent of the guns used in crimes in Chicago came from gun dealers within Illinois. But thanks to loopholes in federal law and a lack of federal resources for enforcement, Illinois doesn’t have the tools and authority it needs to combat illegal or negligent business practices that threaten Illinois families.

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“This bill will help level the playing field for gun dealers throughout Illinois by promoting commonsense business practices that will curb the in-state trafficking of illegal firearms. So we applaud leaders in Illinois for advancing a commonsense proposal that will crack down on the illegal gun trade and help keep guns out of dangerous hands,” said Robin Lloyd, State Legislative Director, Americans for Responsible Solutions. “We thank the members of the Illinois House Judiciary – Criminal Committee who supported this commonsense legislation that will hold negligent gun dealers accountable while protecting responsible dealers and the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding people. We urge the leaders in the Illinois House to follow suit and support these responsible changes to Illinois’ laws.”

http://americansforresponsiblesolutions.org/2016/05/17/ilhb1016/

Responsibly legislated gun control regulations to close the "loopholes" instigated by ALEC/NRA blood suckers and corrupt politicians is laudable. This is a great example of what can be done by standing up to the right-wing gun lobby, and those Second Amendment absolutist gun humpers who support them.

[aikoaiko]

2. Even I can get behind this legislation.

It includes:

Background Checks for Licensee and Employees: Gun store employees often have access to huge inventories of guns and it is a commonsense practice to make sure that the dealer and employees are just as responsible as the buyers.

Transparency and Accountability: Upon licensure, dealers would have their places of business, including all records and inventories, open for inspection by IDFPR and law enforcement during all hours of operation.

Training: The bill would require training to ensure that dealers and their employees know how to conduct background checks, identify and stop straw purchases, and properly store guns to prevent thefts.

Video Surveillance System & Security Requirements: The legislation codifies industry best practices by requiring 24/7 video
surveillance of the business and visible footage of the purchaser in each transaction.

Business Location Restrictions: The business of a licensee and inventories cannot be within 1,000 feet of any school or daycare facility (with an exemption for densely populated areas) or in violation of any local ordinance.

The first three might actually reduce mistakes or criminal behavior.