‘Safe gun storage’ bill ready for final passage in Illinois House
[May 28, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – The Illinois House could soon approve a measure
requiring gun owners to lock up their firearms under certain
circumstances, despite there being 6 to 1 opposition filed against the
bill.
Before Senate Bill 8 advanced out of the House Gun Violence Prevention
Committee Tuesday, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, explained
what would be considered locked up if a prohibited person, including
someone under 18, is on the premises.
“An example of this is cable lock or placed, which is my preference and
best practice, placed in a securely locked box or container,” Hirschauer
said.
Illinois State Rifle Association’s Ed Sullivan pushed back on the cable
lock provision Hirschauer mentioned, saying the bill only discusses a
locked container.
“A cable, which is a cheap device, cheaper still, very good device to
lock a thing is not eligible under this bill that was just reported,”
Sullivan said. “You have to have a locked container.”
Hirschauer said that’s not true.
Sullivan also said the prohibited person could be anyone without a
Firearm Owner ID card.
“So what that tells me is don't invite aunt, grandma or your grandma
from Wisconsin to your facility or a cousin or someone that lives out of
state because if they would gain access to your firearm, you would be in
violation of this law,” he said.
Hirschauer said that also isn’t true.
“A prohibited person under this bill is a person who is not eligible to
have a FOID card or not eligible to own a gun under federal law,” she
said. “I personally don't have a [FOID] card. That does not make me a
prohibited person. I am eligible to apply and be granted a FOID card or
I'm eligible under federal law. So that was a misrepresentation.”
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To questions about possible legal challenges using the lack of
historically similar firearm control laws to find the measure
unconstitutional, Hirschauer said she didn’t have any examples at
this time. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that to successfully
defend gun control laws, there must be historical analogs that
defenders can point to.
Josh Witkowski from Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources said
the issue of firearm readiness has already been sorted out by the
U.S. Supreme Court.
“It stated that that firearm not being accessible for self-defense
is a violation of Second Amendment rights,” he said.
SB 8 also has lost and stolen reporting requirements. Hirschauer
said someone not reporting a lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours
could face consequences.
“Under this section, the Illinois State Police may revoke a [FOID
card] after a second or subsequent violation of failing to report
our lost or stolen firearm,” she said.
Sullivan said instead of more measures that will likely face
constitutional challenges, the state needs to focus on firearms
safety training for younger children.
“We don't really push firearm safety training. We push sex ed
training, we push drug use training, we push alcohol training,” he
said. “And why do we do that? We do that to protect our kids, but we
don't allow firearm safety training.”
Hirschauer said while it’s not a mandate, the legislature did
approve allowing local communities to teach firearm safety. She is
also working on a tax credit for people who purchase safes for
firearms.
More than 1,200 people filed in support of the bill. More than 6,300
people filed in opposition.
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