SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation to try to curb gun violence in Chicago by punishing people convicted of firearm trafficking with long prison sentences.
The bill the Republican governor signed Tuesday in Chicago will impose a sentence of up to 20 years for a first offense. A subsequent conviction for trafficking guns into Illinois from other states will be punishable by up to 30 years.
A 2014 report from the Chicago mayor's office concluded that nearly 60 percent of the guns used in Chicago are traced to neighboring states where it's easier to buy guns. Illinois requires permits to screen for criminal records and other disqualifiers. The report found that about 20 percent of illegal guns come from Indiana where no permit is required.
