Reboletti: Use gun fines to help prevent crimes
SPRINGFIELD — State Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican, has introduced legislation that would raise fines for those convicted of gun crimes and use the money to try to keep guns from the hands of those deemed mentally unfit to use them.
A recent audit of state law enforcement found that only three of Illinois' 102 circuit court clerks submitted mental health court orders to the Illinois State Police as required by law. When submitted, the mental health court orders are used by police to deny those mentally unfit from receiving firearms ownership identification cards.
“This will go a long way to stopping (gun) violence,” Reboletti said.
The money generated by Reboletti's proposed new $50 fine would be granted to circuit court judges and clerks who apply to learn how to properly report those unfit to legally carry guns.
State Sen. Dan Kotowski, a Park Ridge Democrat, has also identified the underreporting of mental health checks as a problem that he wants to work on.
Reboletti's proposal was showcased along with three other Republican-sponsored bills intended to curb violence against children at a news conference at the Capitol in Springfield Tuesday.