Chicago Pushes for Tougher Laws

[4070BN]

As Chicago leaders push for a statewide mandatory minimum prison sentence of three and a half years for illegal firearm possession in Illinois, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy made the case for urgency Monday by telling the story of an arrest this week in which police checked on a convicted felon and discovered he had a stolen and loaded Cat-9 9mm handgun.
McCarthy went through other tales of SWAT teams and cops bursting in on convicted felons to find .38 caliber Smith and Wessons, .45 caliber Glocks, .357s, and 38 specials. The guns typically are loaded, impossible to register and illegal -- both in how they are purchased and that they are in the possession of habitual, violent criminals.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, McCarthy and District Attorney Anita Alvarez are calling for legislation to toughen the penalty for illegal firearm possession, as well as so-called truth-in-sentencing laws, intended to prevent convicts from being released after serving just a fraction of their time and returning to their violent lifestyle.
“By increasing penalties and requiring criminals to serve their punishment, we not only protect our children, our families and our communities but we also prevent the impulsive retaliatory killings that plague our neighborhoods," McCarthy said.
The catch is that such laws need to be passed by the state Legislature in Springfield, where the success of Emanuel's agenda will depend on his powers of persuasion.
"When you commit a serious gun offense, you should serve the time. The victims deserve it. The public demands it, and the criminal justice system should deliver it," Emanuel said.
Emanuel may not be accustomed to the reception his push may get from downstate lawmakers.
Illinois prisons are so badly overcrowded that six of them have inmates bunking together in the gym. On top of that, the governor of the cash-strapped state announced the closure of two prisons. AFSCME union members are protesting because the understaffed guards are at risk. Their protest is punctuated by news that guards were attacked at Menard Correctional Center and the Pinckneyville Correctional Center.
Stiffer sentences will mean more prisoners staying longer, and downstate Illinois will help foot the bill for Chicago’s problem.
"It's an unfunded mandate, and you know the state of Illinois has a budget problem of course. We're trying to cut corners and do everything we can to balance the budget," Democratic State Sen. Gary Forby said.
The bill containing the increased penalties desired by Chicago’s leaders has been drawn up. It is in Springfield waiting to be assigned to a committee.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013...#ixzz2MfmqTOwL

Perhaps I'm confused, isn't there already a Federal Law for Felons in Possession of a firearm.

I. POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION BY A PROHIBITED
PERSON:
18 USC § 922(g) & (n). Punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. May receive
minimum sentence of 15 years without parole if offender has three or more prior
convictions for a felony crime of violence (e.g. burglary, robbery, assault, possession
of offensive weapons) and/or drug trafficking felony

Seems pointless since Illinois is already has overcrowded prisons and the Police in Chicago seem inept at doing anything but blaming law abiding citizens.

[DennisH82]

It seems that it would be easier to move the few good folks left there out, build a wall around the city and drop supplies once a month untill there is nobody left, cheaper as well.

[steelerfan]

It seems that it would be easier to move the few good folks left there out, build a wall around the city and drop supplies once a month untill there is nobody left, cheaper as well.

Now there's a really great idea !

[ak47fullmag]

soo more difficult for law-abiding citicizens and less for the wheelin dealin criminals of chicago. this just gets better and better.

[bigandy1966]

It seems that it would be easier to move the few good folks left there out, build a wall around the city and drop supplies once a month untill there is nobody left, cheaper as well.

Uhhhh there was this movie...... Kurt Russel as Snake Plisskin

[Grey Bearded One]

So the poor schmuck who moves to Illinois from Pennsylvania and doesn't know about the gun laws winds up in prison and the gangster goes free with plea bargains.

Makes sense to me.

[Fujisawa-sensai]

Uh, who is the "victim" of illegal gun possession?

They're not talking about just felon/mentally ill person in possession of a gun, either. It's anyone who doesn't have a FOID. They just use the extreme examples to try to scare people into doing what they want.

[arjohnson]

Like it matters their, they must clean up their own neighborhood and until they start growing a set and "snitchen" it will never change.

[ak47fullmag]

So the poor schmuck who moves to Illinois from Pennsylvania and doesn't know about the gun laws winds up in prison and the gangster goes free with plea bargains.

Makes sense to me.

yup. gonna be the story every where if this pattern is aloud to permeate.

[lemko]

It seems that it would be easier to move the few good folks left there out, build a wall around the city and drop supplies once a month untill there is nobody left, cheaper as well.

"Escape from Chicago!"