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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, In 2012 the City of Chicago experienced over 500 
3homicides, 87% of which were gun related; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Recent news articles have highlighted that many of 
5those prosecuted for firearms offenses in the City of Chicago 
6and Cook County are receiving minimal or inconsistent 
7punishment under Illinois law; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Under federal law a convicted felon in possession 
9of a firearm or ammunition is eligible for a sentence of up to 
1010 years in federal prison; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Federal weapons prosecutions peaked at 11,015 in 
122004 under President George W. Bush; last year the number had 
13dwindled to 7,774 prosecutions; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, The Northern District of Illinois, which includes 
15the City of  Chicago, has one of the lowest federal district 
16court prosecutions of gun-related violence despite a major 
17surge in violent crime using a weapon; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Despite the alarming number of gun-related 
19murders in the City of Chicago last year, the number of federal 
20prosecutions of gun crimes in U.S. District Court in Chicago 
 
 
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1actually dropped from 129 in 1999 to 73 in 2011 and to just 40 
2last year; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS,  Increasing the number of federal prosecutions for 
4firearms offenses will help keep violent and repeat offenders 
5off the street longer; and
 
6    WHEREAS,  Increasing the number of federal prosecutions for 
7firearms offenses will free up local criminal justice resources 
8for other criminal prosecutions; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Increasing the number of federal prosecutions for 
10firearms offenses is an effective way to fight violence in the 
11community; therefore,  be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that a comprehensive State 
14and federal approach is necessary to curb firearms violence and 
15ensure that our communities are safe from increasing gang 
16violence; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That we urge the President of the United States, 
18the Attorney General of the United States, the Mayor of 
19Chicago, the Chicago Police Superintendent, the Cook County 
20Sheriff, and the Cook County State's Attorney to work together 
21so that all firearms offenses that are eligible for federal 
 
 
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1prosecution be referred to the federal government for 
2prosecution under existing federal law.