title
AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION
LEG-R-0034-23 AMENDING THE COUNTY'S 2023
STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
resolution
WHEREAS, the DuPage County Board annually adopts a state legislative agenda that includes legislative priorities that are submitted to the county’s state lawmakers for action; and
WHEREAS, the DuPage County Board adopted its state legislative agenda on January 24, 2023; and
WHEREAS, from time-to-time the Legislative Committee determines there is a need to amend legislative priorities to the state agenda throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, DuPage County, as a non-home rule unit of government, lacks the authority to enact regulations surrounding firearms; and
WHEREAS, per the 2022 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Report, more than 1 million guns were stolen from private citizens from 2017 to 2021; and
WHEREAS, a 2015 study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that roughly 4.6 million children live in a home with loaded and unlocked firearms; and
WHEREAS, according to research funded by the National Institute of Justice, over 80% of mass shooters at K-12 schools stole guns from family members; and
WHEREAS, it is a safe practice to store firearms so they are not accessible to unauthorized individuals or minors; and
WHEREAS, firearms that are securely stored will reduce opportunities for individuals to harm themselves or others; and
WHEREAS, the County’s Legislative Committee recommended an amendment to the county’s state legislative program to include support of language related to mandating safe firearm storage; and
WHEREAS, the language necessary should include a framework as outlined in Ethan’s Law, where gun owners would be required to secure their firearms in a “secure gun storage or safety device” or “in a location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure” if a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without permission, or if a resident of the dwelling cannot legally possess a firearm under existing law; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly has legislation before it that closely mirrors Ethan’s Law (Senate Bill 1521); and
WHEREAS, the DuPage County Board requests that the Illinois General Assembly enact legislation mandating safe firearm storage.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, per the recommendation of the Legislative Committee, that the DuPage County Board hereby amends its 2023 state agenda to include the aforementioned priority; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff and the County’s lobbyists are directed to work together with the County’s legislative delegation to advance the amended 2023 State Legislative Program in Springfield.
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Enacted and approved this 9th of May, 2023 at Wheaton, Illinois.
________________________________
DEBORAH A. CONROY, CHAIR
DU PAGE COUNTY BOARD
Attest: ___________________________________
JEAN KACZMAREK, COUNTY CLERK