SB 549 Includes Amendment that Would Protect Communities by Expanding Alerts to Local Officials When a Dangerous Person Tries to Buy a Gun or Applies for a FOID Card and Fails a Background Check
Everytown Research (Available Here) Explains How Easy it is for ‘Denied and Dangerous’ People To Get Their Hands on Guns After Failing a Background Check – And What States Can Do To Enforce Existing Laws and Improve Public Safety
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Volunteers with the Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded Senator Julie Morrison for championing an amended version of SB 549 that would expand National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) denial notifications. Volunteers also met with more than a dozen lawmakers today to discuss the need for continued progress in curbing the gun violence that kills more than 90 Americans and injures hundreds more every day.
Current Illinois law requires the Department of State Police to notify local law enforcement agencies when prohibited individuals attempt to purchase firearms. The amended version of SB 549 would strengthen this law by requiring the Department of State police to notify probation officers and local prosecutors, in addition to local law enforcement agencies, when a dangerous person tries to access a firearm; requiring agencies and prosecutors that receive notifications to report annually to the Department of Public Safety on the dispositions of any subsequent investigations; and requiring the Department of Public Safety to publish annually the number of investigations, referrals, prosecutions, charges and convictions of people who commit these “lie-and-try” crimes in Illinois.
STATEMENT FROM MARIE NEWMAN, VOLUNTEER WITH THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Illinois moms are proud to be here in Springfield today meeting with our lawmakers to discuss gun safety and we are especially thankful to Senator Julie Morrison for her leadership this session. When someone who isn’t legally allowed to have a gun – because of a criminal conviction, a domestic abuse incident, or a dangerous mental illness – tries to buy one or applies for a FOID card, and fails a background check, that’s a red flag, and it’s also a crime. These so-called ‘lie-and-try’ offenses are rarely prosecuted—even though evidence shows prohibited people are more dangerous after failing a background check. Senator Morrison’s amendment to SB 549 is really a tool that provides valuable information to law enforcement officers, probation officers, and local prosecutors so they can keep our communities safe and prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands.”