(The Center Square) – With the Chicago area still reeling from at least three mass shootings over the recent Father’s Day weekend, Democratic state Rep. Bob Morgan knows there is still much work to be done in hopes of curbing violence in the city.
“The legislative work isn’t done; we need to better protect victims of domestic violence when their abuser has easy access to a gun, we need to more aggressively ensure safe storage of firearms to reduce suicide-by-firearm and accidental shootings amongst children, and we need to redouble law enforcement focus on solving gun-related crimes,” the chair of the Illinois House Firearm Safety & Reform Working Group told The Center Square. “I will continue working with colleagues to create and pass common-sense legislation to reduce the violence and trauma resulting from easy access to guns and inadequate mental health care.”
Morgan has been on a mission since last July 4, when a gunman opened fire at a Highland Park parade in his district, leaving at least seven dead and an additional 48 injured. Morgan was there with his children, and since then has worked to bring about the kind of gun reform he feels is needed.
“Thanks to the Protect Illinois Communities Act, as of January 11th, we have stopped the sale of weapons of war and high-capacity magazines in Illinois. On July 1st, we will have universal background checks on all Illinois gun sales, and law enforcement is beginning to see success in stopping illegal gun trafficking across state lines,” he added.
Still, times like this month’s bloody holiday weekend remind Morgan of how much further he needs to go.
“I will continue working with colleagues to create and pass common-sense legislation to reduce the violence and trauma resulting from easy access to guns and inadequate mental health care,” he said.
