Gun violence has again been a topic of debate among local lawmakers after the shooting of an Illinois state trooper and a rampage in Maine.
For state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, the problem lies with the individual, not the gun.
“There are bad people everywhere doing really bad things and we probably need to focus more on mental health,” he said Friday at a Citizens Club of Springfield forum.
During the forum organized at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfieldnoted that the state’s attempts to restrict access to guns have failed in some ways, still allowing people to own guns when they shouldn’t.
“I think we need to think about how to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them,” she said.
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Gun control advocates say one solution would be for the Illinois Senate to pass legislation to address a gun ownership loophole regarding protection orders. Current state law mandates the revocation of a respondent’s firearm owner’s identification card once an order has been placed, but advocates say the actual removal of firearms does not often doesn’t happen.
This was the case of Cristobal Santana, 37, suspected of being responsible for the shooting of the ISP police officer in Springfield.
Three weeks ago, Santana’s ex-girlfriend, Adrianna Lopez, obtained a protection order against him in Chicago. Trooper Dakotah “Kody” Chapman-Green arrested him Tuesday night as a suspect in Lopez’s shooting death.
Chapman-Green was then allegedly shot by Santana who was eventually arrested by police early Wednesday morning. Santana was charged with two counts of attempted murder, as well as aggravated battery with a firearm against a peace office, aggravated battery against a peace office and aggravated unlawful use of a firearm. a weapon. A Sangamon County Court judge ordered him detained Friday by the Sangamon County Sheriff.
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With the veto session a week away, Yolanda Androzzo, executive director of the gun control advocacy group One Aim Illinois, called for swift action.
Parliamentary Bill 676considered Karina’s bill and named for a woman who was granted a protective order but killed by an ex-boyfriend, passed the Illinois House of Representatives 70-36 in May and is on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Time is of the essence as the most dangerous time of year for survivors of domestic violence – the holidays – is fast approaching,” Androzzo said in a statement. “How many more tragedies like this need to happen before lawmakers act to keep our children, our families and our communities safe?”
The debate over gun access comes as ISPs require registration of those who possess firearms and other items prohibited by the state’s semi-assault weapons ban. Governor JB Pritzker signed the Illinois Community Protection Act enacted in January following a 2022 Independence Day shooting in Highland Park.
Online registration began earlier this month and 2,046 people came forward as of Friday, according to state police data. These disclosures included 3,880 firearms, 2,145 accessories and 39 ammunition.
ISP is holding several public hearings to answer questions, including one in Springfield. This hearing will take place Thursday starting at 9:30 a.m. at 401 Spring St., Room D-1 of the Stratton Building.
Coffey’s comments were similar to those made by new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., following the shootings in Lewiston, Maine, where at least 18 people were killed. been killed. Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Johnson said the problem lies in the “human heart.”
Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.
