Advocates are urging Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to use state law to combat gun violence in Chicago by enforcing stricter regulations on local gun dealers. A pending lawsuit underlines this call, seeking to hold dealers accountable for responsible sales practices, including maintaining digital records to prevent straw purchases, which account for a significant portion of recovered crime guns in the city.
Current data shows that 40% of crime guns found in Chicago originate from dealers within Cook County, highlighting a critical opportunity for intervention. Experts from Johns Hopkins believe that imposing requirements based on the Brady check list could lead to a substantial decrease in gun-related incidents, particularly in Chicago’s ten highest crime neighborhoods. Governor Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s response could notably impact the city’s safety and the lives of vulnerable children affected by gun violence.
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