Illinois Enacts New Gun Safety Laws Amid Debate

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed two new gun safety laws, including the Safe Gun Storage Act, which requires locked storage of firearms if minors or at-risk individuals are present, with fines up to $10,000 and potential misdemeanor charges for violations leading to harm. The law also reduces the reporting window for lost or stolen guns from 72 to 48 hours and permits revocation of Firearm Owner's Identification cards after repeated failures to report. Another new law mandates all Illinois law enforcement agencies to use the federal ATF eTrace program to help trace guns used in crimes. Supporters say the measures are common-sense steps to prevent gun violence, while some Republican lawmakers criticize them as infringements on Second Amendment rights and warn of possible legal challenges. The enactment comes as violent crime rates continue to decline in Chicago. The new laws were passed amid ongoing court disputes over Illinois' broader assault weapons ban.