SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Illinois House committee meets to talk about other ways to prevent gun crimes, as controversy continues over the provisions of the “SAFE-T Act,” elimintaing cash bail.
The House Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force heard from Kathleen Sances, president of the Gun Violence Prevention PAC, recommends updating the state’s FOID card process.
“…moving our fingerprints from optional to mandatory,” said Sances, “considering an in-person application for FOID, adding safety training for first-time gun buyers.”
Other suggestions included banning assault weapons and awareness campaigns on safe firearm storage.
The Illinois State Rifle Association’s Ed Sullivan recently told members things like an assault weapons ban won’t reduce crime, but will increase racial disparity.
“Who do you think is going to get arrested for having assault weapons?” asked Sullivan. “There’s 72 counties in the State of Illinios that are two-way sanctuary counties. They’re not going to arrest anybody. It’s not someone who looks like me that’s going to be arrested for the carrying or owning of assault weapons.”
Meanwhile, a bill has been introduced in the Senate that its sponsor says will clarify the cashless bail provision of the SAFE-T Act, and setting up provisions where a pre-trial release from custody will be denied.
Peoria’s State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth says lawmakers have worked hard to make sure the act works, but that the new bill will be considered carefully.
Booth issued a statement Wednesday on the new Senate Bill 4228.
“Since the SAFE-T Act was passed in January 2021, legislators have worked with stakeholders from across the state to address sincere concerns and facilitate the law’s successful implementation. These conversations have been invaluable, and as a result the House has passed three trailer bills refining and improving the law. That work continues. The Public Safety Working Group is meeting regularly, both internally and with state’s attorneys, law enforcement, survivors, advocates, and others to discuss further refinements and improvements.
“We will review Senate Bill 4228 through the same process of thoughtful consideration within our working group to ensure all voices are being considered. This is the same process that delivered $200 million to address public safety across Illinois, and developed bipartisan measures to give police high- tech tools they need to solve carjackings, home burglaries, and violent crimes against people, and crack down on ‘smash and grab’ retail crime rings. We believe in the transformative and holistic changes to our criminal justice system included in the SAFE-T Act, and we also recognize we can continue to improve upon that progress through thoughtful, honest, and collaborative dialogue.” — State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth
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