SPRINGFIELD – Since Florida enacted the "red flag" law last March, more than 450 people have been ordered by local judges to surrender firearms to local law enforcement, citing safety risks filed with the courts.
“In all, we’ve taken in about 200 firearms and around 30,000 rounds of ammunition,” a Pinnellas County officer told ABC News.
Last month, both Democrat and Republican lawmakers sent to Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner a similar "red flag" bill, which he signed into effect.
Personal Defense World describes Illinois' law:
HB 2354, also known as the Lethal Violence Order of Protection Act, authorizes a court to remove firearms, a FOID card and a CCW license from a person who poses 'an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to himself, herself, or another by having' a gun in his or her possession. The person who petitions to have the firearms removed can be a law enforcement officer, family member or a dating partner. The gun seizures can be issued by a judge ex parte, meaning without the subject of the order being present.
“Today I signed legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of those who would use them to commit acts of violence against themselves or others, after proof is provided,” Rauner said on Twitter.
Gun control activists applauded the 13th state enacting a "red flag" law. Illinois' gun confiscation on the "red flag" complaints will begin January 1, 2019.
“There are certain times when it makes sense to have somebody’s firearms rights temporarily removed,” Robin Lloyd, director of government affairs at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence said. “It really is filling a gap in our laws by giving law enforcement and families a tool that they otherwise don’t have.”
At the same time, Governor Rauner signed into law a provision requiring a 72 hour waiting period before purchasing any gun in the state of Illinois.
The following Illinois Republicans supported the "Lethal Violence Order of Protection Act": Andersson, Batinick, Bellock, Brady, Breen, Durkin, David Harris, Hays, McAuliffe, McDermed, Morrison, Olsen, Pritchard, Reick, Sauer, Spain, Stuart, Wehrli, Welter, Barbara Wheeler, Keith Wheeler and Winger.
Of the 32 House members that opposed the measure, one – Costello – was a Democrat.
Republican Senators Althoff, Connelly, Curran, McConnaughay, Nybo, Oberweis, Rezin and Rooney joined the Democrats supporting HB 2354.
