Illinois: Update on Pending Pro-Gun and Anti-Gun Legislation in the Land of Lincoln

Please Contact Your State Legislators Today!

A number of bills, both good and bad, are currently on the floor of the Illinois State House of Representatives, and could be taken up for consideration at any time. 

Please contact your State Representative by clicking here and respectfully request they OPPOSE the following bills:

House Bill 180, introduced by State Representative Deborah Graham (D-78), would establish a state-based licensing scheme for Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders that sell handguns.

House Bill 5480, introduced by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-14), would outlaw most private transfers of handguns and require the transfers to be processed through an FFL.

House Bill 5495, introduced by State Representative William Burns (D-26), would prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period.

House Bill 5849, introduced by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-14), would overturn last year’s Illinois Supreme Court ruling that held the storage boxes built into vehicles qualified for storing unloaded firearms for lawful transportation under Illinois law.  This bill would change the law to make it more difficult to lawfully transport unloaded firearms.

House Bill 6123, introduced by State Representative Osterman (D-14), would create a confusing new felony offense for “knowingly” supplying a “street gang member” with a firearm.  A “street gang member” is defined in the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act.  This legislation is undoubtedly intended to capitalize on the fears the general public has for words like “street gang” and “terrorism.”

Please contact your State Representative by clicking here and politely encourage them to SUPPORT the following bills:

House Bill 462/House Bill 5221/House Bill 6249, introduced by Representative Brandon Phelps (D-118)/Representative John Bradley (D-117), are all Right-to-Carry Bills.

House Bill 5231, introduced by State Representative John Bradley (D-117), would remove the prohibition on having a firearm in a place where alcohol is served if it is possessed by the business owner, or by employees he has given permission to possess a firearm while on the premises.

Finally, House Bill 4835, introduced by State Representative David Reis (R-108), has passed the House, and is now in the Senate.  This bill would eliminate the waiting period requirement on firearm transfers if the transfer involves trading one operable firearm for another. 

Please contact your State Senator and urge her or him to support HB 4835. Contact information can be found here.