SPRINGFIELD – Busloads of gun control activists are converging at the State Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to pass a "Gun Dealer Licensing Act" in light of gun violence around the nation.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – part of New York City-based organization Everytown for Gun Safety – says they support SB 1657 because it "requires responsible business practices among gun dealers and holds corrupt dealers accountable."
Everytown's arch nemesis, the National Rifle Association, disagrees with Everytown's description of SB 1657.
SB 1657 would create onerous mandatory regulations, fees potentially in the thousands of dollars and excessive amounts of red tape that would almost assuredly force the closure of many firearm dealers, and prevent prospective owners from opening new ones," the NRA-ILRA website says.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) already licenses and closely monitors all federally licensed firearm dealers (FFLs) and strictly enforces any violation of federal law, they argue.
But Wednesday, photos of moms headed on buses towards the Capitol flooded Twitter and Facebook – calling for the Democrat-controlled Illinois House to push through the measure to the governor's desk.
The Illinois Senate passed SB 1657 in a 30 to 21 vote in April 2017, with seven downstate Democrats registering an "NV" on the roll call. All Republicans except then-Minority Leader Christine Radogno opposed the measure. Radogno voted "Present."
The vote will need a 3/5 vote to pass the House during the veto session.
Those sponsoring SB 1657:
The Senate vote roll call:
