CHICAGO– As a way to help prevent the flow of illegal guns into Illinois, state Rep. Christian Mitchell, D-Chicago, is introducing legislation that would require all gun dealers in the state to obtain a license before selling firearms or ammunition.
The Gun Dealer and Ammunition Seller Act – House Bill 3422 – regulates handgun dealers through licensure by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In order to obtain a license, dealers must submit an application that includes employee background checks and proof of compliance with all federal and state regulations. The measure would also require that each facility used by the dealer be monitored by a video surveillance system and would prevent dealers from setting up shop in residential areas.
In addition, dealers would have to keep and maintain detailed records of all gun sales and transfers for five years. Twice a year, dealers must take a full physical inventory of each firearm held by the licensee and include a listing of each lost or stolen firearm. Federal guidelines currently mandate that dealers report the loss or theft of any firearm to local law enforcement within 48 hours of discovery.
“This bill adds critical security measures and oversight to gun shops, helping to cut off the supply of illegal guns which are flooding the streets of our neighborhoods,” Mitchell said in a statement. “We have to do more to keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people.”
Current federal law requires licensure of gun dealers, but there are substantial concerns as to the strength and consistency of the enforcement, according to proponents of the bill, which lays out guidelines by which gun dealers in Illinois must follow and gives the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation the power to enforce them.
“We have a lot of work to do to hold our bad apple gun dealers accountable,” said Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church. “This is an important step in us curbing the gun violence that is gripping our communities and destroying the lives of our young people.”
For more information, contact Rep. Mitchell’s constituent service office at 773-924-1755 or MitchellDistrict26@att.net.
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