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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 51


 
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    WHEREAS, Illegal interstate firearms trafficking and the 
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gun violence that results from it have become growing problems 
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in all portions of the State of Illinois, other areas of the 
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Midwest, and throughout the nation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Children and students are too often the victims of 
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gun crimes, in their homes and on our streets, before, after, 
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and during school hours; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Since the current school year started in September 
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2008, thirty-six Chicago Public School students have been shot 
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and killed; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In Gun Violence: The Real Costs, a book written by 
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Philip J. Cook and Jens Ludwig, the data collected by the 
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authors show the cost of security in Chicago public high 
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schools to be $41 million a year, and the costs of security in 
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suburban and downstate Illinois schools are similarly rising 
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rapidly; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Since the federal ban on assault weapons was 
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lifted in 2004, the Chicago Police Department has seized 1,547 
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such weapons; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, According to a five-year study conducted by the 
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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 43% of 
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all guns seized within five police districts in the City of 
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Chicago originated in Mississippi; and


 
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    WHEREAS, There is an enormous number of illegal guns in 
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Chicago, other areas of Illinois, and throughout the Midwest, 
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and 80% of murder victims in Chicago are killed by guns; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Interstate 
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Gun Trafficking Task Force within the Illinois State Police, to 
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consist of the following:

(1) the Director of State Police or 
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his designee; (2) the Illinois Attorney General or her 
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designee; (3) the Cook County States Attorney or her designee; 
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(4) the Sheriff of Cook County or his designee; (5) the 
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Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department or his 
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designee; (6) two appointees of the Governor who are 
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representatives of suburban or downstate law enforcement 
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officials; (7) the Executive Director of the Illinois 
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Association of Chiefs of Police or his or her designee; (8) the 
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Executive Director of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association or his 
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or her designee; (9) a member of the Illinois State's 
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Attorney's Association; (10) a member of the Illinois House  
 


 






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chosen by the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives; 
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(11) a member of the Illinois House  chosen by the Minority 
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Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives; (12) a member 
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of the Illinois Senate  chosen by the President of the Illinois 
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Senate; (13) a member of the Illinois Senate  chosen by the 
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Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate; and (14) the DuPage 
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County State's Attorney or his designee; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That all appointments shall be made no later than 
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45 days following adoption of this resolution; and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study measures that 
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help reduce illegal interstate gun trafficking in Illinois and 
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the harmful effects of such activity; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall choose its chair and 
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other officers and meet at the call of the chair; and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve 
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without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their 
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reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for 
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that purpose; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings and 
 


 






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recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on or 
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before December 31, 2010; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That legislatures of other states in the Midwest 
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are encouraged to create interstate gun trafficking task forces 
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in their respective states, which task forces may cooperate 
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with the Task Force created by this resolution and with each 
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other; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to 
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the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, the 
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President of the Illinois Senate, the Minority Leader of the 
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Illinois House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the 
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Illinois Senate, the Governor of the State of Illinois, and the 
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Director of the Illinois State Police.