Bill Text: IL HR0550 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Creates the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-11-09 - Resolution Adopted as Amended 112-001-000 [HR0550 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HR0550-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Virtually every week there are media reports of
tragedies and crimes involving handguns; and
WHEREAS, The illegal influx of firearms into the State of
Illinois causes risk and harm to law enforcement officers and
to the law-abiding residents of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who are not legally authorized to
possess firearms in Illinois commit crimes with guns that
result in murders, serious injuries, and significant property
losses; and
WHEREAS, Although there are exceptions related to law
enforcement and private security functions, the State of
Illinois at this time does not have a law permitting the
concealed carry of a handgun; and
WHEREAS, The general public and members of the General
Assembly could benefit from a study of how a change in the law
in Illinois to permit the concealed carry of a handgun could be
expected to impact communities, law enforcement, the illegal
influx of firearms into the State, and the nature and number of
serious gun crimes; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
there is created the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force is charged with finding and
analyzing data from states that have concealed carry laws,
especially those states with significant similarities to
Illinois; the inquiry and study should include information
about the types and number of crimes involving handguns before
and after the date that a concealed carry law went into effect
in each state and particularly for the following categories:
violent gun crimes; suicides by firearm; number of guns, or gun
owners, legally registered; number of registered guns stolen or
number of guns stolen from registered gun owners; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the task force should additionally gather
information from similar states with concealed carry laws
concerning: the number and nature of serious crimes committed
by persons who were lawfully carrying a concealed weapon at the
time of the crime; and the number of people killed or injured
when a person who was lawfully carrying a concealed weapon used
the concealed weapon or made known to the assailant that he or
she was carrying a concealed weapon; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the task force should also consider, if a
concealed carry law is passed in Illinois, how public safety
could be maintained, whether a change in the law would create a
need for police sensitivity training, and what type of public
information campaign about a concealed carry law would be
appropriate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force shall be comprised of the
following members, all of whom shall serve without
compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose:
(1) ten representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
(2) two representatives appointed by the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives;
(3) a representative of the Department of State Police
appointed by the Director of the Department;
(4) a representative of the Cook County Sheriff's
office appointed by the Cook County Sheriff;
(5) a representative of the Cook County State's
Attorney's office appointed by the Cook County State's
Attorney;
(6) a representative of the Illinois State's
Attorneys' Association appointed by the head of that
organization;
(7) a representative of the Illinois Fraternal Order of

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Police appointed by the head of that organization;
(8) a representative of the Illinois Sheriffs
Association appointed by the head of that organization;
(9) a representative of The National Rifle Association
of America appointed by the head of that organization;
(10) a representative of CeaseFire appointed by the
head of that organization;
(11) a representative of the Illinois State Rifle
Association appointed by the head of that organization;
(12) a representative of the Illinois Council Against
Handgun Violence appointed by the head of that
organization; and
(13) a representative from the Illinois Firearms
Manufacturers Association appointed by the head of that
organization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Speaker shall designate a member of the
task force to serve as the chairperson; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the members of the task force shall be
reimbursed for their travel expenses from appropriations to the
Department of State Police available for that purpose and
subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Department of State Police shall provide

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administrative and other support to the task force; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the task force shall hold public hearings
and shall issue a written report of its findings and
recommendations to the General Assembly on or before March 1,
2012; and that upon filing its report the task force is
dissolved.