SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the Criminal Judiciary Committee of the Illinois House of Representatives for advancing SB 337, which would help reduce illegal gun trafficking and hold corrupt gun dealers accountable. The bill includes provisions from the Gun Dealer Licensing Act, which Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed in March despite strong grassroots support for the legislation from Illinoisans.
SB 337, the Combating Illegal Gun Trafficking Act, would:
- Require background checks for gun store employees;
- Require gun dealers to keep their business premises open for inspection by law enforcement during business hours;
- Require training for gun dealers and gun store employees on responsible business practices and the laws applicable to selling firearms; and
- Require video surveillance and alarm systems for all brick-and-mortar locations.
The Illinois Senate passed SB 337 last week on a bipartisan vote, after years of advocacy from the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and gun violence prevention groups across the state.
STATEMENT FROM ELLY HANAUER, VOLUNTEER WITH THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Just as lawmakers have done in other states since Parkland, our representatives in Springfield are taking action to make our state safer, and they’re doing so because constituents are urging them to. These strong steps to prevent gun trafficking will help protect Illinois communities by making it harder for people with dangerous histories to acquire firearms. We urge the full House of Representatives to send this bill to the governor and give him another opportunity to show he takes public safety seriously.”