Hirschauer Prioritizes Violence Prevention in Spring Legislative Session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Building on years of advocacy, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D- Batavia, passed a balanced budget and legislation that prevents gun violence and invests in youth and community development.
“When the Governor introduced his budget proposal months ago, I made it a priority for the final product to help bolster community safety by tackling the root causes of violence. I am proud to have supported a budget that invests in violence interruption and prevention services to keep our communities safe,” Hirschauer said. “Our budget is a representation of what we value, and this
year’s budget sends an unequivocal message that the safety and wellbeing of our children and communities is essential.”
The Hirschauer-backed fiscal year 2024 budget provides millions of dollars in funding for non- profit organizations and local governments for violence interruption and prevention, community development, and youth employment. It also fully funds a multi-million dollar safe gun storage public awareness campaign to help prevent unintentional shootings, saving many, especially children, from accidental death and gun-related injuries.
In concert with the violence prevention measures in the budget, Hirschauer recently passed a House Bill 676 which would, among other measures, keeps guns out of the hands of domestic
abusers by clarifying that the respondent of the firearms restraining order is prohibited from acquiring or possessing any firearms for the duration of the order of protection and outlining the
process and timeframe for firearms to be seized after the entry of the order of protection. The bill also permits intimate partners to petition for a firearms order of protection, closing what is
commonly known as the “boyfriend loophole.”
“In Illinois, we can compassionately govern while still maintaining strong fiscal responsibility to create a safer, brighter future,” Hirschauer said. “Though we’ve made tremendous progress this
session, our work is still ongoing, and I will always stand up for the safety and wellbeing of Illinois families.”