Mayor’s statewide registry makes sense, Senate leader says

Assistant Majority Leader Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) today pledged his full support behind Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposal to create a statewide handgun registry that will help law enforcement in all Illinois communities curb gun violence. Mayor Emanuel announced yesterday that he intends to push to expand Chicago’s method of keeping tabs on guns – not just gun owners – to the rest of the state.

“I’m committed to leading the charge for this legislation in the Senate, as a supporter and a sponsor,” Sen. Schoenberg said. “I applaud Mayor Emanuel’s initiative and his commitment to tackling this major problem in our communities. Guns aren’t just a local problem; gun crime is a regional and statewide problem, and we can’t address the epidemic of gun violence if we have no way to adequately keep track of guns.”

Throughout his career, Sen. Schoenberg has been a tireless advocate for tougher, saner gun laws that restrict the widespread availability of weapons.

“Communities all over the state suffer when lost, stolen, or illegally trafficked firearms are used in violent crimes,” Sen. Schoenberg said. “Because some municipalities and counties have less stringent regulations than others, we clearly must have a statewide registry to combat criminals who use lax laws to acquire firearms for their illegal activities.”

Sen. Schoenberg added that handgun registries are essential in allowing law enforcement to identify and disrupt “straw purchases,” in which individuals with criminal backgrounds are able to gain possession of handguns through third parties.