State Senate Passes Daley Gun Bill

A gun bill backed by Mayor Daley that calls for tougher punishment on those found guilty of unlawful use of a weapon has passed the State Senate. The bill calls for those convicted on the charge but without a Firearms Owners Identification card to be sentenced to one to three years in prison. As the law stands now, offenders are eligible for a lesser sentence of probation. The bill now heads to Gov. Quinn's desk after having unanimously passed both the State House and Senate.

The bill's passage is a boost to Mayor Daley, who's preparing himself for the Supreme Court's seemingly inevitable over-turning of the city's handgun ban. In a statement, Daley said, "This law reduces the threat of gun violence by sending a clear message that serious offenders will be held accountable and will not be let off scot-free as many of them are today...This bill protects the rights of law-abiding citizens, but also gives us another tool to combat violence in our neighborhoods and protect our children." Daley has supported several new gun-control proposals, including an assault weapons ban, but this seems to be the only one so far likely to become law. Looks like he's not taking the ISRA's advice about that vacation.