The League believes there should be comprehensive licensing procedures, with gun safety education, fingerprinting and photographs, plus a verification of the applicant's qualifications and a permit system that restricts handgun.
WHY IT MATTERS:
SB1966 will close the loopholes in Illinois's FOID card system that allowed the shooter in Aurora (at the Henry Pratt Co. in February 2019) to own the gun which killed five people and injured several others.
#FixtheFOID
Tell 10 People to Support Fair Maps
ACTION NEEDED:
Ask 10 of your family and friends in Illinois to contact their legislators urging them to support the Fair Maps amendment before May 3, the deadline for the Amendment to be placed on the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot.
Post on your Facebook Page and send messages to 10 of your family and Friends:
Please call the offices of Speaker Madigan, (217) 782-5350, Senate President Harmon, (217) 782-8176 and your State Senator and State Representative and urge them to support the Fair Maps Amendment (HJRCA14/SJRCA18) and call it for a vote.
LWVIL believes the responsibility for redistricting preferably should be vested in an independent special commission.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Redistricting determines political power. Every 10 years, when the U.S. Census data is released, political parties draw legislative boundaries that allow them to choose voters who are most likely to give them a political advantage on Election Day. This practice, known as gerrymandering, produces noncompetitive elections, career politicians, and governmental deadlock all because politicians have little to no reason to fear the consequences of being thrown out of office.
After this year's 2020 Census, new legislative maps will be drawn in 2021 which will be in effect for the next decade. A Constitutional Amendment to provide for an Independent Commission to draw maps needs to pass both houses of the IL General Assembly by May 3 to appear on the November 3, 2020 General Election Ballot.
We deserve competitive elections and fair representation. Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. It's time for an independent citizens' commission to draw legislative maps in Illinois.
