The Illinois chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement after the Illinois House of Representatives passed HB 4729, legislation that would require the Department of Public Health to develop and implement a comprehensive 2-year statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign, on a bipartisan vote. The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate for consideration. State Representative Maura Hirschauer, a former Moms Demand Action volunteer, sponsored the legislation.
“We’re grateful to have such strong allies in the statehouse who continue to advance strong gun safety policies, like this important bill,” said Rhiannon Jimenez, a volunteer with the Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Secure firearm storage saves lives and can play a direct role in reducing youth access to firearms, school shootings and gun suicide. We must do all we can to ensure that gun owners are informed about the critical importance of secure storage – the Senate must prioritize passing this bill.”
“Our lawmakers took an important step forward by passing this bill, we’re grateful for their leadership and commitment to gun safety,” said Cameron Baltrum, a volunteer with Students Demand Action in Illinois. “We shouldn’t have to grow up in fear of gun violence in schools or in our communities. Secure firearm storage is an important solution to school gun violence and our leaders must continue advancing this bill.”
An estimated 54 percent of gun owners don’t lock all of their guns securely and it’s estimated that 5.4 million children live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded gun, an increase of 800,000 children since 2015. Gun owners can make their homes and communities safer by storing their guns securely — unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.
According to Everytown’s new gun law rankings report, Illinois has the sixth strongest gun safety laws in the country and is a national leader in enacting gun violence prevention laws. Learn more about gun violence in Illinois here.
