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- Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 11:25 AM
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.