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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ILLINOIS SENATE BILL 2801 AND HOUSE BILL 4471
WHEREAS, federal and state statutes long imposed stringent prohibitions on the manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of fully automatic firearms, including machine guns, in recognition of their inherently indiscriminate lethality and profound threat to public safety; and
WHEREAS, recent technological adaptations enabled certain semi-automatic handguns to be illicitly modified into fully automatic weapons through the installation of a diminutive, yet highly dangerous device commonly referred to as a “switch,” often composed of plastic or metal and readily obtainable through unlawful channels; and
WHEREAS, once converted, these firearms can discharge ammunition at an alarming rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, rendering them exceedingly difficult to control and exponentially increasing the likelihood of mass casualty incidents, collateral damage, and loss of innocent life; and
WHEREAS, once converted, these firearms can discharge ammunition at an alarming rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, rendering them exceedingly difficult to control and exponentially increasing the likelihood of mass casualty incidents, collateral damage, and loss of innocent life; and
WHEREAS, the proliferation of such conversion devices directly correlates with a troubling escalation in gun violence across urban and suburban communities alike, undermining decades of public safety progress and placing an undue burden on law enforcement, emergency responders, and healthcare systems; and
WHEREAS, evidence indicates a limited number of firearm manufacturers are cognizant of the susceptibility of certain semi-automatic handgun models to facile conversion, yet continued manufacturing, distributing, and marketing such weapons without sufficient design modifications or safeguards to mitigate this risk; and
WHEREAS, Illinois Senate Bill 2801 and House Bill 4471, sponsored by Senator Celina Villanueva and Representative Justin Slaughter, seek to address this critical public safety vulnerability by prohibiting licensed firearm dealers from selling or transferring to civilians any semi-automatic handgun that can be readily converted into a machine gun by hand or with commonly available tools; and
WHEREAS, this legislation establishes a framework of escalating civil penalties to ensure compliance and accountability, thereby deterring negligent or complicit conduct within the firearm marketplace; and
WHEREAS, these measures are narrowly tailored and judiciously crafted so as not to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners, as they do not affect the lawful possession or carrying of currently owned firearms, and explicitly provide exemptions for sales to law enforcement agencies and members of the military; and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation represents a balanced, evidence-based approach that harmonizes constitutional considerations with the urgent imperative to safeguard communities from preventable violence; and
WHEREAS, Cook County remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing policies that promote public safety, reduce gun violence, and protect the health, welfare, and security of all residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, BILL LOWRY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF THE 3rd DISTRICT, AND TONI PRECKWINKLE, PRESIDENT OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, do hereby resolve, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners formally expresses its unequivocal support for Illinois Senate Bill 2801 and House Bill 4471; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County urges the Illinois General Assembly to enact these measures with all deliberate speed in order to curtail the proliferation of illegally modified firearms and to enhance the safety of communities throughout the State of Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Illinois, members of the Illinois General Assembly, and other relevant stakeholders to advocate for the passage and implementation of this critical legislation. Office of Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry 3rd. District.