OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RICHARD M. DALEY
MAYOR
March 9, 201
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution urging the General Assembly to reject legislation authorizing the carrying of concealed firearms.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, There are currently several bills pending in the Illinois General Assembly that would authorize persons to carry concealed firearms if they have been issued a permit; and
WHEREAS, Specifically, four identical bills, Senate Bill 82 and House Bills 112, 148 and 1403, would allow persons over the age of 21 to apply to the county sheriff or to the Department of State Police for a permit to carry a handgun concealed on the person or in a vehicle; and
WHEREAS, Firearm-related injuries and deaths are the cause of significant social and economic costs to the Gity of Chicago and its communities, and have a severe impact on our criminal justice and health care systems; and
WHEREAS, The overwhelming majority of homicides in the City of Chicago are committed with a firearm, and on an annual basis there are typically approximately 2,000 aggravated battery offenses involving a firearm within the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The pending legislation would preempt home rule powers and would prohibit any local regulation of permittees, except that the legislation would allow a municipality to pass an ordinance prohibiting carrying a concealed firearm in portions of a building owned, leased or controlled by that municipality, so long as the ordinance does not impose any criminal penalties for violating the prohibition; and
WHEREAS, The legislation also would purport to give similar powers to the Illinois General Assembly to pass a statute prohibiting concealed firearms on property owned leased or controlled by the State, although it is unclear why the General Assembly would need authority in the legislation to pas...
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