With the title of "Legislative Public Safety Working Group meets on gun violence, school safety measures," Governor Rauner's office sent out a press release Friday. In it, Governor Rauner emphasized that current law just isn't enough.
“Illinois already has some of the toughest gun laws in the U.S.,” Rauner said. “Yet we have ample proof that current law doesn’t do enough to prevent people from obtaining illegal guns and committing acts of gun violence. The purpose of this group is to widen the lens on the problem and deliberate on measures to make Illinoisans in schools, churches – everywhere – safer.”
SPRINGFIELD (April 6, 2018) – The newly-formed bipartisan bicameral Legislative Public Safety Working Group met late yesterday to begin discussions on a wide range of issues that impact the safety and security of Illinois citizens.
The meeting was the first in what Governor Bruce Rauner and legislators expect to be a series of discussions this session on a comprehensive approach to public safety. Rauner is working to engage with legislators to collaborate on critical issues of gun trafficking, school safety, mental health and crime prevention.
Yesterday’s meeting centered on gun issues and school safety. On the latter, the administration shared recommendations developed by a panel of school administrators, police and fire officials who are members of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force. Potential action items include behavioral threat assessments, information sharing among schools, student safety tip lines, active shooter drills, and enhanced fire alarm protocols.
The Working Group agreed to discuss the school recommendations at its next meeting.
In the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida on Valentine’s Day, the Governor asked the four legislative leaders of the Illinois General Assembly to appoint members to serve on a legislative public safety working group. House Democrats and House and Senate Republicans attended yesterday. The Senate Democrat caucus has not appointed members.
“Illinois already has some of the toughest gun laws in the U.S.,” Rauner said. “Yet we have ample proof that current law doesn’t do enough to prevent people from obtaining illegal guns and committing acts of gun violence. The purpose of this group is to widen the lens on the problem and deliberate on measures to make Illinoisans in schools, churches – everywhere – safer.”
“Now, more than ever, public safety is on the minds of people across the state and nation,” said State Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles). “Recent acts of mass violence have really caused us to think about what we can be doing better to keep our children safe. The difficulty with discussing this topic is finding that balance between keeping people safe and protecting our constitutional rights. I am convinced that we can find common ground on solutions that make our state a safer place to live. I look forward to our future meetings and hope that we can advance the conversation—finding a balance that works for all.”
“Public Safety continues to be of high concern for every school and community across Illinois,” said Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago). “Governor Rauner’s bi-partisan work group will be a fair process allowing members of the General Assembly and the Governor to examine best practices and find common ground for meaningful policies to help eliminate preventable violence.”
“I hope to see the working group foster bipartisan cooperation that leads to consensus for the creation of good public safety policy removed from the political wrangling that so often gets in the way,” said Rep. Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake). “Several of my colleagues and I have already begun to work together with this mindset, so I am optimistic this group can be the final piece of puzzle to get things done.”
“I’m very honored to be a part of the Public Safety working group,” said Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Buffalo Grove). “Our mission is to keep the citizens of Illinois safe. I’m hopeful that the Governor and other members of the legislature can work together on a bi-partisan basis to address issues that affect everyone equally. Yesterday was the first step in this process.”
"This working group gives us a chance to move forward together on solutions that address the full scope of the issues that we face," said Senator Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria). "I'm pleased that we were able to focus on school safety at the first meeting and I look forward to the opportunity to continue working on these ideas and recommendations."
“This was a good, productive meeting that touched on a lot of important issues that are going to be central to our efforts to improve public safety in Illinois,” said state Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City). “I hope our future discussions will continue to move us toward that goal.”
"I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the Senate and the House as part of this Public Safety Working Group. As legislators, we need to develop sound policies and pass the kinds of laws that advance public safety and provide help to those citizens who need it," Senator Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) said. "Our common goal should be the safety and security of our citizens."
The meeting yesterday was chaired by former U.S. Attorney from the Central District of Illinois Rodger A. Heaton, who serves as Governor Rauner’s Chief of staff. Rauner was out of state for the birth of his first grandchild.
RINO Rauner emphasizing gun control during his futile campaign for re-election. Apparently he has totally written off the 30%+ conservative GOP and Independent voters, in favor of chasing liberal Dem voters.
His candidacy is doomed.
Criminals don’t obey laws, Gov Rauner sounds like a Democrat. Of course we know he acts like one.
Don’t ya just love the political posturing?
“We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security” Dwight Eisenhower (R)
“The word bipartisan means some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out” George Carlin
You tyrants need to make sure gun bans and infringement of the right to keep and bear arms isn’t on your tyrannical agenda.
Article one, section eight, clauses fifteen and sixteen of the U.S. Constitution which pertain to the state militias does protect 2nd amendment rights from localities. The US Constitution grants Congress the sole power over state militias. Per clause sixteen, the states are reserved only the authority to appoint officers and train their respective state militia in a discipline prescribed by congress. The Bill of Rights only restricts the federal government; it was not intended to restrict the states; that’s not an issue. The preamble to the Bill of Rights tells us this. It is article one, section eight, clauses fifteen and sixteen of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the states from banning arms and disarming the militias (citizens). The tenth amendment states the powers not delegated to the federal gov’t by the U.S. Constitution or prohibited by the U.S. constitution to the states are reserved to the states respectively. It’s obvious the states are prohibited by the U.S. constitution from the authority to disarm the militias and or infringe the right to keep and bear arms since the constitution explicitly grants congress authority over state militias with the only exceptions being the appointment of officers and training. Remember also, the second amendment prohibits the infringement of the right to keep and bear arms by the federal govt.
“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.” – George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution 1788
No State may lawfully make any law which contradicts its State Constitution or which interferes with Congress’ power to “organize, arm, and discipline, the Militia.” Don’t believe me, then read the tenth amendment in the US Constitution.
Any law the state or any localities pass are irrelevant because their laws are subservient to the US constitution. There is a reason there is a very vigorous procedure for amending the US constitution…. NO FEDERAL STATUTE, NO STATE STATUTE, OR LOCAL ORDINANCE CAN OVERRIDE THE US CONSTITUTION. The law in US Constitution is SUPREME. The states and local govt do not have the authority to ban guns. I don’t care what judicial tyrants try to say, the states gave up a little of their power to the federal govt when they ratified the US Constitution; as such the congress possesses the sole authority to “organize, arm, and discipline, the Militia. It’s very clear gun bans by states or localities is a tyrannical overreach of power. Government is the SERVANT, not the master… why on earth would we allow our servant to disarm us. Or leave us with useless arms. A well armed man is a CITIZEN. An unarmed or poorly armed man is a SUBJECT and that is what these one world govt commies want to force on us.
Violence in the Womb
Love Saves Lives
Carl Lambrecht
How about chartered “party bus” safety?
Where are the riots and demonstrations for this “assault rifle” killing?
Double racial standard as usual.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raheem-king-rockford-illinois-shooting-police-searching-suspect-accused-killing-three/