Illinois Gun Crime Bill Passed By House, Opponents Say It Will Target African-Americans, Hispanics

A motion by Illinois Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) halted a measure aiming to give longer sentences to repeat gun offenders after the Illinois House approved the bill Monday. The Black Caucus and some Democratic lawmakers said there was no evidence to show the measure would reduce violence, and that it would lead to an increase in arrests of African-Americas and Hispanics.

The bill was sponsored by Republican House leader Jim Durkin and was backed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The opponents of the bill SB1711 maintained that if passed, the measure would unfairly target racial minorities in the state.

Read: Donald Trump On Chicago Gun Violence: ‘Carnage’ Must Stop Or He Will ‘Send In The Feds’​

Durkin tried to address the concerns by offering changes that set up a trial program for first-time, nonviolent offenders charged with weapons crimes. The program would concentrate on rehabilitation and keep the offenders out of jail. Moreover, the bill would expire in five years, after which lawmakers would have a chance to evaluate the measure’s effectiveness.

According to Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), Jones filed the motion so that negotiation on the bill can be extended. Ford, who supported the bill, said Jones wanted some additional criminal justice reforms, discussed during the bill's negotiation, to be attached with the measure, which was approved 70-41.

“The fact is it’s not a condition of this bill,” Durkin said about Jones’ request, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “The bill has already been vetted, super vetted in committee and also on the floor, and this is a priority right now for the city of Chicago, the mayor and the superintendent. But this is the kind of stuff we expect, unfortunately, in the weaning hours of the Legislature. It’s just gamesmanship.”

Durkin also said he went out of his way to accommodate the Black Caucus.

“At some point they’ve got to be reasonable,” he said.

Emanuel urged the state senate to send the bill quickly to Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“This bill would finally hold repeat gun offenders responsible for their crime, and it is an important step to improving public safety in Chicago and Illinois, along with expanding alternatives to incarceration for first-time non-violent offenders, investing in economic development and strengthening social services,” he said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Apart from the Chicago mayor, the bill was supported by Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. In March, he appeared before the Senate’s Criminal Law Committee to support the bill.

“What we’re trying to do is create a mentality, a culture of accountability,” Johnson said at the time, adding he believed the measure will not only counter violent offenders, but also discourage likely criminals from taking up guns illegally.

“They tell me they make the decision to pull the trigger because they don’t fear our judicial system,” he said during his Senate appearance.

Chicago reported 767 homicides in 2016 and of that, a large majority of victims were young black men killed by firearms. With a population of 2.7 million, Chicago also witnessed several Black Lives Matter protests in 2015 and 2016 over fatal police shootings of black peoples.