Munoz: City leaders call for stricter gun laws

CHICAGO – State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy for a press conference today urging the General Assembly to pass House Bill 2265, a measure that would increase penalties for several gun crimes.

“Criminals are not deterred by the current penalties for illegal gun possession,” Munoz said.  “The proposed legislation that I am sponsoring in the Senate will impose a mandatory minimum sentence.  My hope is that this harsher sentence will ensure that those committing gun crimes are held accountable.”

Under current law, illegal gun possession carries penalties along the same lines as those for repeated retail theft. As a result, more illegal guns are recovered in Chicago every year than in any other city in the country. CPD has recovered more than 5,500 guns to date.

Despite claims of exorbitant costs by the Department of Corrections, House Bill 2265 will pay for itself five times over by saving lives. According to an analysis completed by the University of Chicago, in one year this bill would have prevented over 400 violent crimes by keeping the offenders in prison.

“As of today, there are more than 100 people who have been involved in shootings and murders that would have been in prison if tougher sentencing policies were already in place,” Munoz said. “This law will keep people in our neighborhoods from becoming potential victims and I believe that is worth the monetary cost of this legislation.”