Metro East Sun

SPRINGFIELD - House Democrats passed a sweeping firearms ban early Friday morning which critics say will not stop gang violence plaguing urban areas in the state.

"The firearm ban approved tonight won’t prevent the gang violence in the cities across our state, however, it will unfortunately diminish law-abiding gun owners the right to protect themselves and their family at home," said Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Highland). 

The controversial House Bill 5855 passed with 64 votes - all Democrats - except for the outgoing Republican leader Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge).

Opponents who argue that the so-called "gun grab" measure diminishes law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms have data compiled by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to back their claims. 

More than half of firearms seized in Illinois crime investigations last year were traced to out of state purchases. 

In 2021, the ATF identified the original sale of 14,792 weapons seized at crime scenes. Of them, 7,837 were traced to other states, largely Indiana (2,601), and 6,955 were traced to Illinois. 

House Bill 5855 now heads to the Senate for a vote.

ATF data for Illinois shows that pistols are the preferred weapon among criminals.

Tracings of pistols in Illinois jumped from 6,041 in 2012 to 15,481 in 2021, while tracings of all other firearm types fell from 5,640 to 3,707.

House Bill 5855 passed at 12:30 a.m. on Friday. 

Meier said it is unconstitutional.

“If this gun ban becomes law, it could make criminals out of law-abiding gun owners as it will require them to register their firearms that are banned for sale if they want to keep them," he said. 

"Criminals will always find a way to obtain guns illegally. The latest firearm ban is unconstitutional and it will further diminish a law-abiding gun owner’s right to keep and bear arms."

Meier noted there would be a negative impact to the state budget as many "mom-and-pop" gun stores would be driven out of business.

He also criticized the city of Chicago and its Cook County prosecutor for not doing "anything" to stop gang violence. 

Of the 19,188 total ATF weapon traces in 2021, about half of them - 9,584 - came from Chicago.

Over a 10-year period, ATF data also shows that the time from gun manufacture to crime has lessened, as has the average age of possessor. 

The average time from the original sale of a firearm to its recovery at a crime scene dropped from 12.9 years to 5.6 years in 2021.

The average age of the person in possession fell from 37 years to 32 in 2021.