ILLINOIS GUN OWNERS: Time to file more witness slips UPDATED

Illinois Carry reports on a series of bills we need to file witness slips either as opponents or as proponents.

Some are bills that were rescheduled from earlier weeks.  Others are newer bills.

Thanks in advance for taking a moment to fill these out.  As of Sunday evening, the slip count was roughly 130 in the pro-gun direction and ZERO anti-gun on the bills I surveyed.

UPDATE:  One more, an “Ivory ban”, as a favor to Todd Vandermyde.

SB-1858 – Ivory Ban:  OPPONENT.  The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative This bill would criminalize the sale of legally acquired products, thus instantly devaluing the personal property of Illinois’ citizens, and would do nothing to contribute to efforts to save wildlife populations from poaching and illegal harvest.  Action opposes SB 1858, which would ban the sale or offer for sale of ivory or products containing ivory in the state of Illinois.

And here they are…

Witness Slips Filed Prior to 3/21/2015 Must be Filed Again
Our Call to Action this week sets a new course. This request for witness slips is more focused, including fewer bills than the last alert and definitely less than could have been included now. While some new, particularly interesting bills are listed, this alert attempts to isolate certain legislation by recognizing trends within the state and connections to national movements. Emphasis has also been placed on signals that may indicate a propensity for movement.

This is an imprecise endeavor; more art than science. Our hope is to keep our effort directed where it will accomplish the most good.

Today’s Call to Action includes our first Senate Bill as well as bills in three different House Committees: Judiciary – Civil, Judiciary – Criminal, and Revenue.

Log on to the ILGA Dashboard or Create a New Account

Oppose

HB148 Lost & Stolen Firearms – OPPONENT
Illinois law has required FOID Card holders, but not persons illegally in possession of firearms, to report lost or stolen firearms since the Gun Safety and Responsibility Act became law effective 8/9/2013. HB148 seeks to deny otherwise law abiding citizens their right to own firearms via FOID revocation and felony conviction.

HB265 Firearm Protect Order – OPPONENT
There are many forms of protection order available to the courts in Illinois, from granting occupancy of the family home to giving custody of the family pet to one spouse or another. Of the tools available to a judge a firearm protection order, as it currently exists in law, is one of the most important when determined necessary by a court of competent jurisdiction.

HB265 proposes to subvert the judicial discretion so necessary to our system of governance by prohibiting the subject of an order of protection from purchasing or transporting a firearm, even when that order is simply in regard to animals, property, and a number of other orders unrelated to a physical threat against the petitioner.

While enough to oppose on its own merits, HB265 also creates a frightening potential synergy when taken in context with HB399 Protection Order Issuance. Though not the subject of the current call to action HB399 proposes to empower the States Attorney, and courts on their own motion, to impose an order of protection on behalf of a petitioner even against the petitioner’s wishes. This combination of ill conceived legislation, both bad in their own right, establishes an untenable system of potential rights denial under the most unusual of circumstances.

HB2544 Firearm Concealed Cary Church – OPPONENT
Adds places of worship to the list of prohibited locations

HB2659 Use/Occ Tax Firearms – OPPONENT
Imposes a 3.75% surcharge on firearms and firearm component parts

HB3160 Lethal Violence Ord Protect – OPPONENT
Creates a California style “Gun Violence Restraining Order” allowing family members and police to file such order. “Family member” includes former spouses, persons who share or formerly shared a dwelling, persons who allegedly have a child in common, persons who are dating or engaged, care givers and personal assistants.

The order can be issued without due process, and enforcement is not contingent upon successful service of summons. Though service is not required, respondant must relinquish all firearms, FOID Card, and FCCL. Respondent may request return of the FOID and FCCL at expiration of the order, but there is no duty to return if not requested. Firearms seized under the order may be destroyed if petitioner does not proactively seek their return. Evidence to be used against respondent includes recent acquisition of firearms, ammunition, or other deadly weapons. Prior non-violent arrests are also included. Petitioner may request indefinite extension of the order and termination of the order puts the burden of proof on respondent. Orders may be enforced against those living outside Illinois.

HB3298 Use Occ Tax Ammunition – OPPONENT
Imposes a 2% surcharge on firearm ammunition

HB3411 Order of Protection No Firearm– OPPONENT
Denial of rights for any order of protection issued in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic

HB3422 Gun Dealer & Ammo Seller License– OPPONENT
Creates the Gun Dealer and Ammunition Seller Act

HB4023 Firearm Offense Ment Hlth Eval– OPPONENT
Requires mental health evaluation for carrying in violation of FOID or FCCA, including prohibited locations

HB4039 Crim Cd Firearm Sale– OPPONENT
Prohibits sales to persons on the terror watch list

HB4048 Handgun Registration– OPPONENT
Registration of handguns and parts, reporting of sales, fees. Certificate required to possess or transport a handgun.. Redundant lost and stolen.

SB1277 Lost and Stolen– OPPONENT
Elevates penalties to a felony level

Support

HB367 Concealed Carry Public Transit – PROPONENT
Removes the carry prohibition on public transportation

HB481 Concealed Carry Rest Area – PROPONENT
Permits a licensee to carry in rest areas

HB1428 Concealed Carry DOT Rest Area – PROPONENT
Permits a licensee to carry in rest areas

HB1435 Concealed Carry Privacy – PROPONENT
Limits privacy waiver to determining license qualification

HB3218 Concealed Carry License Denial – PROPONENT
Establishes due process in regard to license denials

HB3243 Concealed Carry Training – PROPONENT
Reduces training requirement to 8 hours

HB3275 Concealed Carry Non-Resident – PROPONENT
Eliminates substantially similar requirement

HB3379 Firearms Municipal Regulation – PROPONENT
Enhanced FOID preemption

HB3813 Concealed Carry License Fees – PROPONENT
Reduces and redistributes application fees

HB3908 DNR Investigations – PROPONENT
Provides that no employee of the DNR shall search any home or its curtilage without a valid warrant, permission, or probable cause

Want to see how we’re doing?  Here’s the tally and the individuals filing slips, also courtesy Illinois Carry:
HB148 Lost & Stolen Firearms – OPPONENT
HB265 Firearm Protect Order – OPPONENT
HB367 Concealed Carry Public Transit – PROPONENT
HB481 Concealed Carry Rest Area – PROPONENT
HB1428 Concealed Carry DOT Rest Area – PROPONENT
HB1435 Concealed Carry Privacy – PROPONENT
HB2544 Firearm Concealed Cary Church – OPPONENT
HB2659 Use/Occ Tax Firearms – OPPONENT
HB3160 Lethal Violence Ord Protect – OPPONENT
HB3218 Concealed Carry License Denial – PROPONENT
HB3243 Concealed Carry Training – PROPONENT
HB3275 Concealed Carry Non-Resident – PROPONENT
HB3298 Use Occ Tax Ammunition – OPPONENT
HB3379 Firearms Municipal Regulation – PROPONENT
HB3411 Order of Protection No Firearm – OPPONENT
HB3422 Gun Dealer & Ammo Seller License – OPPONENT
HB3813 Concealed Carry License Fees – PROPONENT
HB3908 DNR Investigations – PROPONENT
HB4023 Firearm Offense Ment Hlth Eval– OPPONENT
HB4039 Crim Cd Firearm Sale– OPPONENT
HB4048 Handgun Registration– OPPONENT
SB1277 Lost and Stolen– OPPONENT