Illinois Lawmakers Propose Stricter Gun Laws to Protect Domestic Violence Victims

Illinois lawmakers are proposing stricter gun laws aimed at protecting domestic violence victims. The proposed measures, known as "Karina's Bill" and included in House Bill 4469 and Senate Bill 2633, are a response to the 2023 shooting of Karina Gonzalez and her daughter in Chicago.

Karina's Bill would clarify the process for victims seeking specific protective orders, require law enforcement to confiscate firearms if an emergency firearms protection order is granted, and prohibit gun owners from transferring firearms to another person. The bill also adds intimate partners to the list of those who can apply for a firearms restraining order.

Additional proposed legislation includes the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act (HB 4753), which would allow people to request law enforcement reviews of murder cases that have been unsolved for at least three years. House Bill 4754 would require law enforcement agencies to digitally publish statistics on homicides and nonfatal shootings.

Why this matters: These bills aim to address the gun violence crisis in Illinois and provide more protection and justice for survivors of gun violence. The proposed measures are backed by organizations such as Moms Demand Action and One Aim Illinois, who believe they will help reduce gun violence in Illinois communities.

Nessa Bleill, a Champaign Central High School senior and survivor of the 2022 Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting, has helped found a chapter of Students Demand Action at her school. Bleill plans to study political science in college and become a politician to continue her mission of enacting policy changes to prevent gun violence.

Gun control advocates and survivors, including Bleill, are calling on lawmakers to pass these bills. "We need to take action now to prevent more tragedies from happening," said Bleill at a rally at the state Capitol. "These bills are a step in the right direction to protect victims and hold abusers accountable."

Key Takeaways

• Illinois proposes stricter gun laws to protect domestic violence victims.
• Karina's Bill aims to improve protective orders and firearm confiscation.
• Proposed legislation allows reviews of unsolved murder cases and requires homicide data publication.
• Gun control advocates and survivors support the bills to reduce gun violence.
• A high school student survivor plans to study politics to enact policy changes.