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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION 550

 
2    WHEREAS, Virtually every week there are media reports of
3tragedies and crimes involving handguns; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The illegal influx of firearms into the State of
5Illinois causes risk and harm to law enforcement officers and
6to the law-abiding residents of Illinois; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Individuals who are not legally authorized to
8possess firearms in Illinois commit crimes with guns that
9result in murders, serious injuries, and significant property
10losses; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Although there are exceptions related to law
12enforcement and private security functions, the State of
13Illinois at this time does not have a law permitting the
14concealed carry of a handgun; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The general public and members of the General
16Assembly could benefit from a study of how a change in the law
17in Illinois to permit the concealed carry of a handgun could be
18expected to impact communities, law enforcement, the illegal
19influx of firearms into the State, and the nature and number of
20serious gun crimes; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3there is created the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force; and
4be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That the task force is charged with finding and
6analyzing data from states that have concealed carry laws,
7especially those states with significant similarities to
8Illinois; the inquiry and study should include information
9about the types and number of crimes involving handguns before
10and after the date that a concealed carry law went into effect
11in each state and particularly for the following categories:
12violent gun crimes; suicides by firearm; number of guns, or gun
13owners, legally registered; number of registered guns stolen or
14number of guns stolen from registered gun owners; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the task force should additionally gather
17information from similar states with concealed carry laws
18concerning: the number and nature of serious crimes committed
19by persons who were lawfully carrying a concealed weapon at the
20time of the crime; and the number of people killed or injured
21when a person who was lawfully carrying a concealed weapon used
22the concealed weapon or made known to the assailant that he or
23she was carrying a concealed weapon; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the task force should also consider, if a
2concealed carry law is passed in Illinois, how public safety
3could be maintained, whether a change in the law would create a
4need for police sensitivity training, and what type of public
5information campaign about a concealed carry law would be
6appropriate; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That the task force shall be comprised of the
8following members, all of whom shall serve without
9compensation:
10        (1) five representatives appointed by the Speaker of
11    the House of Representatives;
12        (2) five representatives appointed by the Minority
13    Leader of the House of Representatives;
14        (3) a representative of the Department of State Police
15    appointed by the Director of the Department;
16        (4) a representative of the Cook County Sheriff's
17    office appointed by the Cook County Sheriff;
18        (5) a representative of the Illinois State's
19    Attorneys' Association appointed by the head of that
20    organization;
21        (6) a representative of the Illinois Fraternal Order of
22    Police appointed by the head of that organization;
23        (7) a representative of the Illinois Sheriffs'
24    Association appointed by the head of that organization;
25        (8) a representative of The National Rifle Association

 

 

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1    of America appointed by the head of that organization;
2        (9) a representative of the Illinois State Rifle
3    Association appointed by the head of that organization;
4        (10) a representative of the Illinois Council Against
5    Handgun Violence appointed by the head of that
6    organization;
7        (11) a representative from the Illinois Firearms
8    Manufacturers Association appointed by the head of that
9    organization;
10        (12) a representative of the Cook County State's
11    Attorney's office appointed by the Cook County State's
12    Attorney; and
13        (13) an individual who advocates for victims of gun
14    violence appointed by the Speaker of the House of
15    Representatives; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the Speaker shall designate a member of the
17task force to serve as the chairperson; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Department of State Police shall provide
19administrative and other support to the task force for no more
20than 3 meetings; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That the task force shall hold public hearings
22and shall issue a written report of its findings and
23recommendations to the General Assembly on or before March 1,

 

 

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12012; and that upon filing its report the task force is
2dissolved.