As an experienced gunshot injury attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, I’m always interested in how other states handle gun laws.
Our neighbors to the east made the news recently, as Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill changing the state’s gun laws.
Gun owners in the state who fail to report the theft or loss of a weapon will now face tougher restrictions, according to a report from KMOV out of St. Louis.
The law increases the importance and thoroughness of background checks while requiring firearm thefts or losses to be reported within seventy-two hours.
Gov. Quinn signed the bill in a South Side Chicago park, where a policeman was fatally shot in 2010. Chicago Police Chief Garry McCarthy fully supports the law, indicating that the restrictions will help the state crack down on crime.
The requirement to report theft goes into effect immediately, while the background check improvements do not apply until 2014.
This isn’t the only gun-related law recently passed in Illinois; in July, the state became the last in the nation to allow public possession of concealed guns. The law permits anyone with a Firearm Owner’s Identification card who has passed a background check and undergone safety training of sixteen hours to obtain a concealed-carry permit.
In Missouri, you have to carry a permit when carrying a concealed weapon. If you do not have the permit with you, it is not a crime; however, you can be fined up to $35.
After dealing with many gunshot injury cases, I understand Gov. Quinn’s intentions behind signing these new laws into effect. Gun violence has been a problem in Illinois, especially in the Chicago area.
If you are ever in the unfortunate circumstance of having suffered a gunshot injury, contact an experienced gunshot injury attorney.