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We’ve discussed this before:
We are going to back that up as well. So, the main sponsor to HB1092 is Rep. Stoneback. Here she is:
As you see, right in her bio, she notes this:
It checks out. Prior to becoming a legislator, she was in charge of it:
So again, why are Rep Stoneback and People For A Safer Society pushing this bill to expand the red flag law? In the words of the current president of the organization:
Black and Brown people have long been disproportionately plagued by gun violence. This isn’t news. But the situation has worsened considerably since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gun sales in Illinois have greatly increased since March. With increased gun sales comes the inevitable rise in gun violence, be it domestic gun violence, suicides, homicides, or accidental shootings.
As reported by Everytown for Gun Safety, “As the coronavirus has rolled across the country, its virulent impact has not been evenly felt. Black Americans are nearly twice as likely as white Americans to die from COVID-19. They are more than four times as likely to die from firearm homicide. City gun violence has persisted even amidst shelter-in-place orders. Systemic and structural discrimination against communities of color is resulting in these communities disproportionately experiencing the deadly effects of both public health crises.”
While this double health crisis looms, we want to inform Illinois residents about the Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) which went into effect in January of 2019. This law can help to temporarily remove firearms from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.
Illinois is one of 19 states to have a law like this - sometimes called Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) or “red-flag laws.”
Studies have shown that these laws reduce gun violence in the states where they exist. But they only work if people use them.
“Black and brown” people make up the majority of the newest demographic of legal gun owners. So, tell me how this legislation isn’t attempting to expand the current red flag law to target minorities because they’re “at risk” just because of the color of their skin?
To end, what’s one thing Rep. Stoneback wants as well? To “strengthen the FOID”:
Want to see why the FOID exists?
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