(The Center Square) – A Republican state legislator advanced a measure out of the Illinois House Gun Violence Prevention Committee.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, proposed House Bill 1316 in response to a situation in his district where a student threatened another student that they would shoot them. A school staffer waited until the next morning to notify others about the alleged threat.
“Staff that is notified must immediately notify the principal and contact must be made with both sides, both guardians of both children, the one that made the threat as well as the individual who the threat was made on,” Davidsmeyer told the committee.
Davidsmeyer said the immediate reporting ensures the child does not have access to a firearm. Despite the measure clearing the committee, Davidsmeyer said he has an amendment to take law enforcement out of the equation and work with school officials around the state to get to an agreed bill.
“I know there’s a lot of opposition filed, but I believe those are just individuals that assume that every bill coming to this committee is anti gun and that is not the case on this bill,” Davidsmeyer said.
Gun Violence Prevention Committee chairman Democratic state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, agreed.
“We are going to prove them wrong with this bill, for sure,” she said.
Current law requires immediate notification if a gun is found. Hirschauer said this broadens that.
“We need to clarify that for our teachers so that if they’re hearing of a threat or if they know of something happening, we want that to be reported,” Hirschauer said.
Other bills pending in the committee include measures that would increase fees for firearm transfers to fund confiscations, various gun storage measures and even mental health exams for certain gun owners.
