SPRINGFIELD - While the Illinois State Rifle Association doesn't list SB 1342 on its legislation watch list, a black youth group is leading the charge against the gun bill, which could be considered during the General Assembly's one day session at the Capitol next week.
BYP100 Chicago issued a statement Wednesday saying mandatory minimum laws like SB1342 are "racially biased, harmful to Black communities and will increase the number of Black People in prison in Illinois."
Sponsored by State Senator Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago) and House sponsored by State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) and State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Addision), SB 1342 would mandate jail time for unlawful use of firearms.
BYP100 Chicago is a local chapter of the Black Youth Project 100, a collective of 18-35 year old Black activists "dedicated to achieving freedom and justice for all Black people."
A recent research study performed at Northwestern University shows that mandatory minimum sentences for gun possession do not decrease gun violence, the group's press release says. Instead, mandatory minimum laws, due to the increase in incarceration, worsens employment, schooling, voting, social services, neighborhood and other economic opportunities in Black communities.
"We need our tax dollars spent on things that make our communities safer like schools, jobs and violence prevention services instead of imprisoning more black people -- not on costly implementation of mandatory minimum laws," BYP100 said.
The group is asking those who also oppose toughening mandatory prison sentencing for unlawful gun use to sign a petition HERE on MoveOn.org.
