 |
|
|
WICD - Search Results
New Strict Gun Laws for Illinois
CHAMPAIGN-
Stricter gun laws will go into effect next week, but this time those laws are focused more on a county prodecure to make sure that guns don't get in the wrong hands.
Currently it is required for the circuit clerks to report to the Illinois State Police when a judge deams a person to be mentally unstable to own a firearm. However, the problem is that 99 counties in the state are not doing it.
"I dont think we need knew laws, I just think they need to enforce the laws that we have," said gun owner, Brian Mcquaid.
Circuit courts in the state have to alert the Illinois State Police whether someone is found mentally unfit to own a gun. Those court requirements are that
the person is a danger to themselves or others, they lack the mental capacity to manage their own affairs, they are not guilty of a criminal case by reason of insanity, mental disease or defect and, they are incompetent to stand trial in criminal case. According to State Senator, Larry Bomke, the new law aims to make sure county clerks "are expediting this in a timely manner."The Champaign County Circuit Clerks says they are already in compliance with the law.
"It's a new law, so i'm in conversation with the Chief Judge and the Presiding Judge, about how this process works." Circuit Court Clerk, Katie Blakeman said. "With our office working closely with there office making sure we are in compliance with the law."
L
ocal owner of Parker Firearms and Ballistics, Robert Rigdon says government officials need to regulate more so they know who to sell to."We're not medically competent to make that ruling, and we shouldn't be put in that position to do it," Rigdon said. "I mean they blame us. We're not responsible, you applied, you got the card, so you're legally able to own."
Currently there is no deadline for circuit clerks to file the form with the Illinois State Police.
"I think that's our biggest problem is recognizing people that do have issues like that and keeping the guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them in the first place," Mcquaid said.
In the new year there will be 13 new laws that will affect her office, two of them being gun laws, which she says are currently under review to make sure her department is up to code with all the new guidelines.
