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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, In 2012 the City of Chicago experienced over 500
3		homicides, 87% of which were gun related; and
4		WHEREAS, Recent news articles have highlighted that many of
5		those prosecuted for firearms offenses in the City of Chicago
6		and Cook County are receiving minimal or inconsistent
7		punishment under Illinois law; and
8		WHEREAS, Under federal law a convicted felon in possession
9		of a firearm or ammunition is eligible for a sentence of up to
10		10 years in federal prison; and
11		WHEREAS, Federal weapons prosecutions peaked at 11,015 in
12		2004 under President George W. Bush; last year the number had
13		dwindled to 7,774 prosecutions; and
14		WHEREAS, The Northern District of Illinois, which includes
15		the City of Chicago, has one of the lowest federal district
16		court prosecutions of gun-related violence despite a major
17		surge in violent crime using a weapon; and
18		WHEREAS, Despite the alarming number of gun-related
19		murders in the City of Chicago last year, the number of federal
20		prosecutions of gun crimes in U.S. District Court in Chicago

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1		actually dropped from 129 in 1999 to 73 in 2011 and to just 40
2		last year; and
3		WHEREAS, Increasing the number of federal prosecutions for
4		firearms offenses will help keep violent and repeat offenders
5		off the street longer; and
6		WHEREAS, Increasing the number of federal prosecutions for
7		firearms offenses will free up local criminal justice resources
8		for other criminal prosecutions; and
9		WHEREAS, Increasing the number of federal prosecutions for
10		firearms offenses is an effective way to fight violence in the
11		community; therefore, be it
12		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
13		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that a comprehensive State
14		and federal approach is necessary to curb firearms violence and
15		ensure that our communities are safe from increasing gang
16		violence; and be it further
17		RESOLVED, That we urge the President of the United States,
18		the Attorney General of the United States, the Mayor of
19		Chicago, the Chicago Police Superintendent, the Cook County
20		Sheriff, and the Cook County State's Attorney to work together
21		so that all firearms offenses that are eligible for federal

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1		prosecution be referred to the federal government for
2		prosecution under existing federal law.