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Update: On July 16, 2018, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois signed two gun control bills into law: HB 2354, an ERPO bill that allows guns to be temporarily seized from individuals in crisis, and SB 3256, which imposes a 72-hour waiting period to purchase all guns in Illinois, not just handguns. Rauner also indicated he wants legislators to pass a ban on bump stocks and send it to his desk. Thanks to everyone who took this action and made it clear to Gov. Rauner he’d be a one-term governor if he did not act on gun violence prevention! Keep contacting him because there is still room for improvement.
On March 13, 2018, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois vetoed a critical piece of legislation that would have implemented state licensing and regulation of gun dealers in the state.
Gun dealers are currently licensed by the federal government, but regulation at that level is spare. Because of a lack of manpower and resources, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) only inspected 7% percent of 137,464 active firearms dealers in 2016.
In his veto message to legislators, Rauner wrote, “The core issue is not which guns to legally ban or regulate. We have ample proof that such narrowly focused legislative responses…do little to stop the illegal flow of guns into Illinois.” In truth, researchers have found that “comprehensive regulation and regular compliance inspections of retail gun dealers as well as the regulation of private handgun sales [are] associated with significantly lower levels of gun trafficking.”
Rauner’s true motivation for vetoing the bill likely involves his political future. He faces a primary challenge when he runs for re-election in November 2018 and is probably seeking to establish his NRA bonafides.
Please contact Governor Rauner through one of the channels below and give him the following message (personalized to your liking):
I am furious about your veto of sensible legislation to require state licensing and regulation of gun dealers in Illinois. You claimed the bill would do little to curb gun trafficking, but you are wrong. Johns Hopkins researchers found that “comprehensive regulation and regular compliance inspections of retail gun dealers as well as the regulation of private handgun sales [are] associated with significantly lower levels of gun trafficking.” You could be doing your job, protecting the safety of Illinois families, but you’re too busy pleasing the NRA before your upcoming primary. Shame on you. I had little interest in your re-election campaign until now. Now I will be doing everything in my power —peacefully and democratically—to make sure you’re a one-termer replaced by a strong gun reform advocate.
Governor Bruce Rauner
Phone: (217) 782-0244
Email: https://www2.illinois.gov/gov/contactus/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovRauner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GovRauner
Once you have contacted Governor Rauner, click the orange banner below to report taking action!