Illinois Moms Demand Action, Everytown for Gun Safety Applaud Illinois General Assembly for Passing Gun Dealer Licensing Act

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –

The Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after the Illinois General Assembly passed SB 1657, the Gun Dealer Licensing Act. The legislation now heads to the desk of Governor Bruce Rauner.

The Gun Dealer Licensing Act, SB 1657, would protect the public and help prevent gun violence by cracking down on illegal gun sales, reducing gun thefts, and holding corrupt dealers accountable. More information is below.

Today’s vote follows years of advocacy from the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and gun violence prevention groups across the state, and it comes the same day that hundreds of volunteers from these groups and from Moms Demand Action rallied at the State Capitol, urging lawmakers to pass gun safety legislation.

The Illinois House of Representatives also passed two other gun safety bills during today’s session. They now move to the Senate for consideration.

A separate bill passed Wednesday, HB 1467, would prohibit bump stocks and trigger cranks in Illinois. A third piece of legislation approved Wednesday, HB 1465, would require individuals to be at least 21 years old to purchase or possess certain semi-automatic firearms in Illinois.

STATEMENT FROM LAUREN QUINN, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Across the state and across the political spectrum, people know we have to do more to prevent gun violence. For years, Illinois gun violence prevention advocates have been urging lawmakers to address illegal firearm trafficking with strong gun dealer licensing legislation, and the General Assembly has responded with action. No law will end Illinois gun violence by itself, but communities across the state will be safer if the governor enacts the public safety bills passed today.”

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GUN DEALER LICENSING ACT:

The Gun Dealer Licensing Act, SB 1657, would require gun dealers to adopt responsible practices and would hold corrupt dealers accountable. The bill would help curb a major source of illegally trafficked firearms from entering Illinois communities by requiring:

• Background checks for gun store employees
• Gun dealers to keep their business premises open for inspection by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and by law enforcement during business hours
• Training for gun store employees on responsible business practices and the laws applicable to selling firearms
• Video surveillance and alarm systems installed for all brick and mortar locations
• New stores not to operate within 500 feet of any school