Illinois ranks near bottom of states in use of ‘red flag’ gun laws

CHICAGO (CBS) — Within the days after the Highland Park parade bloodbath final yr, lots of consideration was paid to Illinois’ pink flag legislation.

The legislation helps members of the family take weapons out of the fingers of these with violent tendencies. However of the 19 states with pink flag legal guidelines, Illinois ranks at or close to the underside for utilization of the legislation for every of the three years it has been within the books.

Why? CBS 2’s Chris Tye sought to seek out out Tuesday.

In Highland Park, the query was given the suspect’s historical past of threatening habits and historical past with firearms, ought to a beloved one have flagged him and had a choose resolve if his weapons must be taken?

It didn’t occur in that case, and it occurs so not often in Illinois that it’s leaving some specialists scratching their heads as to what is going on on.

“It is irritating, as a result of I do know the potential,” stated Illinois state Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback (D-Skokie).

Stobenack was among the many state representatives who helped push by means of the pink flag legislation – which is formally referred to as the Firearm Restraining Order Act – in Springfield

The legislation briefly removes firearms from members of the family displaying threatening or unsafe habits – permitting a choose to droop a Firearm Homeowners Identification card and take away weapons for as much as one yr.

It really works when these members of the family fill out petitions for firearms restraining orders with a county choose the place the gun proprietor lives.

In a current Johns Hopkins College examine on insurance policies to cut back gun violence in Illinois, their primary suggestion was to enhance firearm restraining order implementation.

Right here is a part of why that’s – in 2020 and 2021, Florida had 4,895 circumstances the place petitions had been filed to take away weapons. In Illinois over the identical interval, the quantity was 105.

Whereas Florida is 30 % bigger than Illinois by inhabitants, the disparity is placing.

“They definitely have taken ahold of it within the wake of their tragedy in Parkland, and actually used it proactively to stop tragedies,” Stoneback stated.

However Illinois has not seen the identical, she stated.

What Illinois will see is an infusion of money from the feds to coach police, judges, and the general public on how Purple Flag legal guidelines will help stop mass shootings, suicides, and home violence incidents earlier than they take form.

Such efforts have been below manner in Florida one yr longer than in Illinois.

“They’re extra acquainted with their pink flag legislation. They’re extra snug implementing and utilizing it,” Stoneback stated. “There’s lots of hesitation right here in amongst, I believe, legislation enforcement and courts as nicely – and maybe misunderstanding.”

The numbers we in comparison with Florida, once more, are from 2020 and 2021. CBS 2 bought an early take a look at the numbers coming in for 2022 in Illinois – and regardless of the eye paid to pink flag legal guidelines after the Highland Park capturing, it seems the variety of firearms restraining orders in Illinois might have fallen final yr – not risen.

The total report on the topic not but full, however when it’s, we’ll go it alongside.