CHICAGO – State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) joined Mayor Emanuel and State’s Attorney Alvarez today to call on the legislature to strengthen sentencing for illegal gun possession.

“I stand with Mayor Emanuel in the fight to end gun violence.  I am sponsoring these initiatives in the Senate to increase the mandatory minimum sentence for illegal gun possession,” Munoz stated.  “Although this could increase costs for incarceration, you cannot put a price on a human life.  I believe the cost is worth it to save lives.”

The proposed legislation, set forth at the press conference, would have the following impacts:
 
     • Increase the penalty for felons who carry guns, from two years to three years, with subsequent offenses requiring a minimum of five years.

     • Increase the minimum sentence for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when the offender does not possess a valid FOID card and the gun is in their possession and loaded, from one year minimum to three years minimum.

     • Add these specific gun crimes to the list of serious crimes that are subject to Truth in Sentences guidelines, requiring that offenders serve at least 85% of their sentence.

Until these stricter sentences become law, State’s Attorney Alvarez has instructed assistant state’s attorneys to prosecute those charged with a gun crime to the fullest extent of the law. 

“This will act as a deterrent to those with illegal weapons in our neighborhoods,” Munoz said.

CHICAGO - State Senator Antonio “Tony” Munoz (D-Chicago) attended a vigil in Kelly Park, located in the heart of the Brighton Park neighborhood.

According to the Chicago Police Department, there were 127 shootings in the area in 2012 alone. Residents, students and community leaders demanded a stop to the violence that took the lives of 43 people in the area.

At the vigil, Munoz expressed his commitment to get assault weapons off the streets, and also his sorrow for the families who have lost loved ones to the hands of violence.

Munoz lit candles in remembrance of the victims of violence in Brighton Park, as well as for the 20 children and six adults who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook shooting in Newton, Connecticut.

PHOTO: A line of candles in remembrance of shooting victims lines a path at Brighton Park

Munoz-vigil-0123-13

 

SPRINGFIELD – The Governor has signed a measure that will allow those without a Social Security number to receive a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License from the Secretary of State’s Office. Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) has been working on this initiative since 2003, when he first attempted to pass similar legislation.

 

According to the Illinois Highway Safety Coalition, unlicensed, uninsured drivers are involved in almost 80,000 accidents in Illinois each year, resulting in $660 million in damage,” Munoz stated. “By allowing those who are undocumented to access the temporary license, we are ensuring they are properly trained, licensed and insured.”

 

Under the new law, undocumented immigrants have the opportunity to apply for a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL). Currently, a person who does not have a Social Security number cannot obtain an Illinois driver’s license but can apply for a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License if they provide documentation issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

 

Differences between a driver’s license and a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License include:

 

  • A TVDL may not be used for identification purposes — it only grants the issuer the right to drive a vehicle.
  • To avoid confusion, a TVDL has a unique appearance and color to distinguish from a traditional driver’s license.
  • A TVDL is valid only for three years.
  • A TVDL may not be used for commercial driving purposes.

 

It is estimated that 250,000 Illinois immigrants would be eligible for a TVDL under this new law. The licenses will be available from the Secretary of State’s Office starting in October of this year.

 

For more coverage of this important issue, please view the following:

 

Coverage from WGN-TV

 

Coverage from the Chicago Sun Times

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate today passed a measure that will allow those without a Social Security number to receive a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License from the Secretary of State’s Office. Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) has been working on this initiative since 2003, when he first attempted to pass similar legislation.

 

“As a police officer, I support this effort to ensure drivers are licensed and insured. This Temporary Visitor Driver’s License will make our roads safer and bring down the cost of insurance for all drivers,” Munoz said.

 

Senate Bill 957 will allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to apply for a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL).  Currently, a person who does not have a Social Security number cannot obtain an Illinois driver’s license but can apply for a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License if the person can provide documentation issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

 

Differences between a driver’s license and a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License include:

 

  • A TVDL may not be used for identification purposes — it only grants the issuer the right to drive a vehicle.
  • To avoid confusion, a TVDL has a unique appearance and color to distinguish from a traditional driver’s license.
  • A TVDL is valid only for three years.
  • A TVDL may not be used for commercial driving purposes.

 

 

“Every year, an estimated 76,000 accidents occur among uninsured drivers, costing $630 million in damage claims,” Munoz said.   “By ensuring these drivers have insurance and have been properly trained, we can reduce the number of accidents and the costs to the people of Illinois.”

 

It has been estimated that 250,000 Illinois immigrants would be eligible for a TVDL under Senate Bill 957. In addition, Illinois would join New Mexico, Utah and Washington in allowing driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.

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