Daley Announces Final Attempts at Gun Control

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 15, 2011 2:05PM

When it comes to fighting for tougher gun control measures, Mayor Daley isn't taking a lame duck approach. Daley proposed four new state criminal laws yesterday intended at curbing gun violence, promised to fight legislation that would restrict the ability of cities from enacting gun-control measures, and promised to continue the fight for tighter gun-control legislation once he leaves office.

The four new measures would automatically transfer to adult courts cases of 15- to 17-year olds arrested with a gun; require a minimum sentence of five years in prison for felons caught with guns; ten-year sentences for people who point guns at police or firefighters responding to emergencies; and make committing a crime with a child in tow where the child is injured by gunfire a felony. Daley will also re-submit legislation that have nearly become law, such as requiring background checks for private gun sales, closing loopholes at gun shows so that background checks are required and possibly going after gun manufacturers for any crimes committed with guns they made.

Daley cited his long history of fighting for tighter gun-control measures in making the announcements, which was met with this comment from Illinois State Rifle Association President Richard Pearson: “It’s not a surprise — same stuff, different year." Pearson and other gun rights lobbyists already oppose background checks for prospective firearms owners because buyers already must have met the standards to own a Firearm Owner’s Identification card.