McHenry Times

It is still unclear whether Gov. Bruce Rauner will sign the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act into law.

With a package of controversial gun bills moving through the General Assembly during the spring session, one of the last to be heard was SB 337, which has been altered due to bipartisan compromise, according to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Northlake).

“It takes out a lot of red tape, but [it] still makes sure we have best practices followed,” Willis said during the May 29 House floor debate.

Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) debating SB 337 during the May 29 House floor debate.

However, the changes were still not enough for some GOP lawmakers. 

Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard) was concerned that a gun licensee who goes out of business could be charged for not keeping records properly.

“My commitment to this body is [that] I will bring back a trailer bill that will either take that clause out or get agreed language so we can take care of concerns on both sides of the aisle,” Willis said.

As for the record-keeping requirements, the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) said in a flyer that it opposes the bill because it “requires firearm industry businesses to log in new firearm shipments within five days or 24 hours of being unpacked and placed in inventory." The ISRA further notes that the requirement would be difficult for large-scale distributors.

While Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) also questioned the record-keeping requirements and the Class 4 felony charge that a violation incurs, he was even more concerned about the bill's lack of detail on video surveillance requirements.

“We spell out a lot of details here," Skillicorn said. "We comb through things and give business regulations and individual regulations, but here there is no detail. Is there a requirement [for] how clear the video has to be? …[D]o we have to have facial recognition?”

The bill is too broad, according to the ISRA, noting in its flyer that the legislation would also apply to defense contractors, ammunition manufacturers, gunsmiths, importers, distributors, pawn shops and suppliers of props for the movie industry. Like Skillicorn, Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) also had concerns with video surveillance and the definition of the word "adequate" in the bill's text. 

“Will there be requirements for the level of resolution [for the video feed]?” Reis asked.

Neither resolution nor facial recognition requirements are written in the bill, Willis answered.

Reis concluded his argument, noting that the state police said that up to 20 personnel would have to be added to enforce the bill, yet there have been no financial appropriations made, which could be up to $5 million, “which means [that] whatever manpower the state police puts towards or assigns to this is going to come [directly from] law enforcement.”

The gun license bill is just not ready yet, according to Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego), who said that while he appreciated Willis’ work to compromise with the GOP on the matter, he could not support SB 337.

SB 337, however, passed the House 65-49 on May 29. The Senate then voted 35-20 to pass it the following day. The bill is now on Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk.