Connor Encouraged by Signing of Gun Dealer Licensing Law

CREST HILL, Ill. – State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is highlighting a new law signed Thursday that aims to keep guns out of the wrong hands by mandating new state licensing standards for gun shops.

“For years, our state has required licenses for businesses that sell alcohol, car dealerships and other operations,” Connor said. “It makes sense that gun dealers also should follow commonsense safety standards that keep stores secure and correctly follow background check procedures.”

Connor sponsored and supported the bipartisan Senate Bill 337, also known as the Combating Illegal Gun Trafficking Act, which was signed into law Thursday by Gov. JB Pritzker. Under the new law, the Illinois State Police are empowered to certify gun dealers as well as to better track private firearm sales. Additionally, the law mandates criminal background checks for gun shop employees, creates an annual training requirement for employees to understand background checks, requires video surveillance at locations that sell guns and grants greater authority for law enforcement to inspect gun-selling businesses. 

“As a former prosecutor, requiring video evidence of transactions involving firearms is a no-brainer to curb gunrunning by providing clear documentation of who purchased a firearm that may end up in the wrong hands,” Connor said. “Too many lives have been lost due to senseless, but preventable, gun violence.”