By RFD Radio/WFMB
SPRINGFIELD – As gun violence continues to plague Chicago, Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed new legislation that will be tougher on the trafficking of weapons into Illinois.
The new law will allow for prosecutors to seek up to 20 years of prison for a first time offense and 30 for a second offense. The law is squarely aimed at efforts to cut the number of illegal guns in Chicago and their impact on the cities’ murder count.
House Minority Leader Republican Jim Durkin said that it’s clear what’s being done with many of the guns brought to Illinois.
“There’s a number of that are being brought in but the charges that are available for the prosecutors to be able to levy against these individuals is rather weak, but we know the intent of these individuals is to bring these into Chicago and other areas and they are being sold to street gang members,” Durkin said.
Authorities say a large percentage of the guns used in crimes in Chicago come from Indiana where there are very few hurdles to purchasing them.
