Governor Bruce Rauner has signed two bills into law that could help prevent people who are a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing guns. The governor signed House Bill 2354 enacting ‘red flag’ legislation giving courts authority to use emergency civil restraining orders to disarm dangerous individuals; and with the signing of Senate Bill 3256, a 72-hour waiting period for handguns delivery is extended to all guns purchased in Illinois.
Governor Rauner urged lawmakers to get to work on other public safety legislation, including proposals that give schools the ability to hire more resource officers and mental health workers.
‘’Everyone agrees that we need to keep firearms out of the hands of those who would use them to commit acts of violence against themselves or others,’’ said Rauner. ‘’These two laws are a commonsense approach that gives us tools to limit access to guns and perhaps save lives while we continue to respect the Constitutional right,’’ added the governor.
The new ‘Red Flag’ law means the courts can prevent possession or purchase of firearms in emergency situations where there is imminent danger of gun violence.
”In the wake of gun violence tragedies, we hear again and again from friends and family members who saw warning signs but felt helpless because they couldn’t keep guns away,” said State Representative Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, a co-sponsor of the bill. ”With this law, families and law enforcement can seek emergency restraining orders if a person’s gun possession would pose a significant danger to themselves or others,” she added. ”Signing this bill will save lives,” said Representative Willis.
