Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords (l) and State Senator Don Harmon (podium)
SPRINGFIELD – Gun shops would have an array of new regulations that require expensive security systems that would put most of them out of business if legislation coming before the Illinois House passes this week, says the Illinois State Rifle Association.
"Shops would be forced to deploy a long list of costly new business practices in order to maintain their licenses," an alert issued by the ISRA said over the weekend. "It is estimated that these new requirements would add at least $100 to the cost of firearm purchased from a licensed retailer."
Last week, former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords announced the “Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition,” at a press conference at the Jesse White Community Center in Chicago. The new group signed onto State Senator Don Harmon's (D-Oak Park) effort.
“This effort is long overdue in Illinois,” Harmon said in a statement. “We’ve been working on these issues for years, and the key thing I’ve learned is this: somewhere in the stream of commerce between a gun manufacturer and a crime scene there is someone purporting to be a law-abiding gun owner, buyer or seller who is anything but.”
While the details of the bill are yet to be released, the ISRA lists what they expect to be included in the proposal, expected to be HB1016:
- Gun buyers will be videotaped when they purchase a gun and that video tape will be provided to the police. Bottom line – you and your guns will be registered.
- Firearm retailers will be forced to install state of the art vaults and alarms at their shops. Very few retailers can afford $2 million security systems, so they'll just have to go out of business.
- Firearm retailers would be required to fill out stacks of new forms and keep reams of paper records covering firearm purchases. Minor record keeping mistakes will result in termination of licenses and shutting down of shops.
- The Chicago Police Department will have to right to inspect and audit any gun shop in the state at any time, without justification.
The ISRA is asking gun owners to call Senator Don Harmon's offices and State Rep. Kathleen Willis' offices to oppose the legislation. They also urge contacting their own state senator and representative, urging them to vote against the proposal.
More at www.ISRA.org
