Rep. Hirschauer Named to Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, will continue her fight to get weapons of war off our streets as a member of the new House Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group.

“No one should feel unsafe on a trip to the grocery store, sitting in a classroom, attending a parade or simply living their lives. Yet too often, gun violence turns these seemingly-harmless situations deadly, stealing the lives of innocent people,” Hirschauer said. “We must use our anger and grief to take action and make sure mass shootings and everyday gun violence become relics of the past. Gun violence is a public health crisis that we must address.”

In the aftermath of the Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park, Hirschauer and colleagues on the Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group will work with stakeholders and community advocates to propose meaningful legislative solutions to curb gun violence and improve public safety.

Hirschauer’s placement on the Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group is a continuation of her work to promote gun safety and gun control measures. She recently took part in a meeting with White House leaders on state-level action to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in mass shootings. She has also sponsored bills to create a firearm registry and ban assault weapons statewide.

“Illinois has the power and momentum to take strong legislative action to prevent gun violence and keep our families and communities safe, and I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and other stakeholders to craft a shared response to address gun violence and firearm safety,” Hirschauer said. “Gun violence is a complex public safety issue that calls for multifaceted solutions, and I am confident the work of the House Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group will inform and inspire meaningful change for our communities.”

For more information on Hirschauer’s legislative agenda, please visit www.ilga.com or contact her office at office@repmaura49.com.

Rep. Maura HirschauerRep. Hirschauer Named to Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group

(D-Batavia)
49th District

Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653

District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago IL 60185

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Combining her advocacy and work to end gun violence, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, supported  a comprehensive gun safety legislation package that was signed into law Monday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“Gun violence is a multifaceted and complex issue that must be addressed on all fronts, from supporting law enforcement with the tools and technology they need to solve gun crimes and track illegally trafficked guns, to funding mental health, community-based violence intervention programs, and education,” said Hirschauer  “House Bill 562 is not a magic fix for the gun violence that plagues our state. It is, however, a crucially important step that we are taking today to prevent mass tragedies and everyday gun violence, and keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people.”

House Bill 562, supported by Hirschauer, takes several steps to combat gun violence and streamlines the FOID applications process by:

  • Requiring federal background checks for all private gun sales
  • Directing $9 million in funding for mental health to communities most impacted by gun violence
  • Allowing for a single FOID/CCL card
  • Strengthening requirements for the Illinois State Police to monitor state and federal databases for people prohibited from owning guns
  • Creating a database of stolen guns
  • Allowing for voluntary fingerprinting as an incentive for reduced application fees and automatic renewal of gun licenses
  • Creating an appeals board for FOID applicants

“The gun violence that plagues our state takes many forms: suicides, homicides, intimate partner violence, police shootings—all of them are lethal,” said Hirschauer. “It is our job, as legislators, to enact public policies that will keep Illinoisans safe, and I will continue to fight for strong, common sense gun violence prevention initiatives. House Bill 592 is a step in the right direction, but we have a  lot more tough work to do.”

Rep. Maura HirschauerRep. Hirschauer Named to Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group

(D-Batavia)
49th District

Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653

District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago IL 60185

The post Hirschauer-Backed Comprehensive Gun Safety Legislation Signed into Law appeared first on Illinois House Democratic Caucus.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, issued the following statement Tuesday at the end of the spring legislative session:

“As we begin to move forward from the pandemic, it’s crucial that we continue to provide support to those most heavily impacted by it. I voted to pass a responsible budget that works to deliver meaningful relief to residents and businesses, while also protecting essential services that our most vulnerable rely on.

“More than ever before, the COVID pandemic has exposed the need to make health care more affordable. Employees who lose their jobs or need to take time off to care for a loved one should still have access to health insurance. I sponsored several measures to expand access to coverage and reduce high health care costs, so families can better afford their prescriptions and medically necessary procedures.

“I also worked to address the pandemic’s continuing impact on housing by supporting economic assistance for homeowners, renters and landlords who lost the ability to make their payments. The pandemic and its restrictions were incredibly difficult for small business owners and employees, it’s important that we continue to take steps to support job creation and respond to economic concerns in the coming months.

“Gun violence, which has tragically plagued our communities for years, did not stop during the pandemic.  In the final few days of session, I passed a bill that I first began working on as a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, the Fix the FOID Act. This bill improves the state’s gun owner licensing laws, and works in tandem with another gun safety measure I supported to prevent mass shootings by disarming people who pose a risk to others or themselves. 

“While we accomplished a lot this spring to build a stronger and safer Illinois, more needs to be done. I look forward to continuing my work with members of our community to address the challenges we will face in the days ahead.”

Rep. Maura HirschauerRep. Hirschauer Named to Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group

(D-Batavia)
49th District

Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653

District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago IL 60185

The post Hirschauer Passes Responsible Budget, Fights for Economic Recovery, Health Care and Gun Safety appeared first on Illinois House Democratic Caucus.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fighting to curb the flow of illegal firearms and prevent violence, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, passed legislation Saturday to strengthen the state’s gun licensing system. Hirschauer’s House Bill 1091, dubbed the Block Illegal Ownership and Fix the FOID bill, now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

“Gun violence is a public health issue that affects far too many families and communities,” said Hirschauer, a longtime volunteer with the gun safety group Moms Demand Action. “As the Aurora shooting tragically illustrated, there are loopholes in Illinois’ gun laws that allow dangerous criminals to possess and use firearms, even after their FOID card has been revoked. This bill takes crucial steps toward preventing the ongoing plague of gun violence and mass shootings.” 

The evidence-based gun safety measure makes several changes to Illinois’ gun owner licensing laws by:

  • Requiring background checks for all gun purchases, including person-to-person, private sales;
  • Verifying the identity FOID card applicants through a one-time fingerprint check;  
  • Enabling the Illinois State Police to retrieve guns once a FOID card is revoked; and
  • Dedicating life-saving mental health funding for communities most impacted by gun violence. 

“As a longtime commonsense gun reform advocate, I commend my colleague Rep. Maura Hirschauer for her leadership on this bill which shuts the door on existing loopholes in current law to prevent firearms from reaching the hands of bad actors,” said Rep. Kathleen Willis. “The proliferation of gun violence in our communities and across the country needs to be met with evidence-based gun violence prevention measures, and that is precisely what this bill does.”

“Protecting loved ones from gun violence is a visceral issue that connects with people across the state, especially parents,” said Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “I’m proud to support Rep. Hirschauer’s bill because it offers proven measures that will keep kids and families safe. This is a straightforward proposal to address gun violence given the decades-long stalemate at the federal level, and I hope my Senate colleagues give it strong consideration.”

Numerous studies have shown the widespread threat of gun violence. Nearly 1,400 Illinoisans die every year due to gun violence, one in 10 being children or teenagers. Nearly 40 percent of gun deaths are due to suicide, also highlighting the importance of another gun safety bill passed by the House earlier this session: Rep. Stoneback’s bill, House Bill 1092, to improve Firearm Restraining Orders to prevent those who may pose harm to themselves or others from acquiring a gun. 

For more information about either bill bill, visit ilga.gov.

Rep. Maura HirschauerRep. Hirschauer Named to Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group

(D-Batavia)
49th District

Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653

District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago IL 60185

The post Hirschauer Passes Comprehensive Gun Safety Measure to Block Illegal Ownership, Improve FOID Card Process appeared first on Illinois House Democratic Caucus.

Images of Reps Ness, Stoneback, & Hirschauer, Students Demand Action logo, and the words 'Gun Safety Town Hall'

April 20, 2021 @ 6:30 pm 7:45 pm

Representative Hirschauer will join her colleagues Representatives Ness and Stoneback in a Gun Safety Town Hall with Students Demand Action. 

Gun Safety Townhall list of current legislation on gun safety

State Representative Maura Hirschauer

331-465-9661

View Organizer Website

State Representative Susanne Ness

224-253-0823

View Organizer Website

State Representative Denyse Stoneback

847-673-1131

View Organizer Website

Zoom