BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says he applauds the bi-partisan Senate gun safety deal in Washington, but that more could be done.
He says Illinois has tighter gun safety measures in place than the feds do — and to those critics who say those tighter gun safety measures aren’t working, Pritzker says it would help if other surrounding states had them as well.
“You have to remember that 60 percent of guns recovered in Chicago from major crimes come from out of state. So even if you have reasonable gun safety measures in place here in Illinois, in places like Indiana, Missouri and Kentukcy, you don’t.”
Pritzker offered comments to reporters while visiting Bloomington-Normal for an economic development announcement on Monday.
The bi-partisan Senate gun safety deal includes federal investment in resources for states to pass their own red flag laws to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.
The bill also clarifies rules for federal firearms dealer licenses and requires much closer scrutiny for gun purchases by those aged 21 and younger.
There is not an assault weapons ban included in the bi-partsian legislation and no age limit increase for gun purchases.