5/10/08 – Senate Bill 1007 which bans the sale, manufacture and possession of any large capacity ammunition magazine is scheduled to be debated in the Illinois House of Representatives in the next several weeks. Now is the time to call your State Representative and urge them to support this common sense legislation to reduce gun violence in Illinois. To learn how, click here

5/2/08 – Write your local newspaper and let them know that you are disappointed in the legislators who voted no on HB 758, which would require background checks for all handgun purchasers. Click here to read an example in the Chicago Daily Herald.

4/30/08 – The Illinois House passed legislation Wednesday that would allow the state to revoke the FOID cards of parents who repeatedly allow their troubled children to gain access to guns or ammunition.  click here to read media coverage on the vote.

4/22/08 – Last weekend, at least seven people were killed in 36 different shootings in Chicago. We urge you to write a letter to the editor calling for common sense gun laws to stop the violence. To read the media coverage, click here. To learn how to write a letter to the editor, click here.

4/16/08 – On the anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, the General Assembly failed to pass HB 758, a common sense measure which would require background checks for all handgun sales in Illinois. Please write a letter to the editor expressing your disappointment in this vote.

4/15/08 – This week in Naperville, ICPGV held a community forum on “Gun Violence: What Can the Public Do to Prevent It.” Although gun rights advocates and ISRA representatives attempted to disrupt the presentations, the event was a success in educating the public on gun violence prevention. Click here to read media coverage of the event.

4/14/08 – In the coming days, the Illinois House of Representatives may vote on HB 758, an ICPGV priority legislative initiative, which would require background checks for all handgun purchases in Illinois. We need your help to pass this common sense policy! Click here to learn how to contact your legislators in support of HB 758.

4/11/08 – Click here to see a cartoon in the Springfield State Journal Register satirizing opponents of the one-gun-a-month bill.

4/08/08 – In the coming days, the Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the ICPGV priority legislative initiatives. We need your help to pass common sense gun laws in Illinois! Click here to learn how to contact your legislators.

4/04/08 – We have updated our website with a new youth page, which includes a student petition for youth to circulate. We urge you to print this petition and pass it on to your children, family and friends. Click here to check it out!

4/02/08 – Hundreds of students, activists, and public officials rallied today to protest the growing number of youth shot and killed in Chicago. Click here to read media coverage.

4/01/08 – The number of Chicago Public School students killed by guns increases to 20 for the current school year. Click here to read media coverage.

3/28/08 – Upcoming Events:

Williams III Youth Foundation - 2nd Anniversary Concert Benefit Program
Saturday, April 12th from 7:00-9:30pm
New True Vine MB Church
901 N. Springfield, Chicago
The Willie Williams III Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed after the tragic shooting death of Willie Williams III. His death was caused by a senseless act of gun violence on April 1, 2006 in Chicago, IL.

NIU Naperville Forum – Gun Violence: What Can the Public Do to Prevent It
Monday, April 14th at 7:00pm
1120 E. Diehl Rd, Naperville
The discussion will focus on what role average citizens can play in helping to reduce gun violence, and state legislation currently addressing the issue. Click here for a flyer.

3/18/08 – The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in District of Columbia v. Heller, a case challenging Washington D.C.’s handgun ban. To learn more about the case and what it means for Illinois, click here.

3/17/08 – Another Chicago Public School student is shot and killed, this time in a drive-by shooting. Click here to read what Chicago students have to say about gun violence in their communities.

3/14/08 – Next Tuesday, March 18th, the Supreme Court will hear District of Columbia v. Heller, a case challenging Washington D.C.’s handgun ban. To learn more about the case and what it means for Illinois, click here.

3/12/08 – Another Chicago Public School student who was shot died yesterday, the 19th CPS student to die by a gun in 2008. Click here to read media coverage on the recent school shootings.

3/7/08 – An anti-violence rally was held after a deadly shooting outside Crane High School in Chicago’s west side. Click here to read media coverage on the rally.

2/29/08 –  Click here to read a press release from the Illinois House of Representatives on the Assault Weapons ban passing out of the House Executive Committee.

2/27/08 – Two common-sense gun policies passed out of the Executive House Committee today.  Click here read media coverage on the legislation.

2/27/08 – Two common-sense gun policies passed out of the Executive House Committee today. Click here to read media coverage on the legislation.

2/22/08 – In the aftermath of the Tinley Park and NIU shootings, citizens across Illinois call for common sense gun laws to stop the violence in a flood of letters to the editor. Click here to read their words.

2/15/08 – Yet another tragic shooting has occurred - this time at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Click here to read coverage in the Chicago Sun Times.

2/8/08 – Three more are added to this week’s tally of gun deaths after a woman kills two female students and herself at Louisiana Technological Institute in Baton Rouge. Click here to read media coverage.

2/7/08 – A gunman himself and five other with a large caliber revolver in a deadly shooting spree at a St. Louis city council meeting, critically wounding the mayor. A Park Forest, Illinois native, Councilwoman Connie Karr, was among the dead in the shooting. Click here to read media coverage.

2/6/08 – A Rockford lawyer was shot dead today, while shoveling snow outside his home. Click here  to read media coverage.

2/3/08 – Another Illinois community is shattered by gun violence, after five women are shot and killed in a Tinley Park mall. Click here to read the recent coverage on this horrific tragedy.

1/31/08 – A new Brady scorecard was released highlighting that most states have done little to keep criminals and other dangerous people from easily obtaining guns. Illinois received a disappointing 28 out of 100 points. To review Illinois’ score, click here.

1/18/08 – Tragically, a six year old child in Chicago was shot and severely injured, the Tribune reports in the article Boy shot in head, 2 wounded on West Side in possible home invasion.

1/10/08 – A compelling piece from Reuters from Jan. 9th asked: "Is America, land of shooting massacres in schools and public places, slowly falling out of love with guns?" Excerpts from the article were posted on the Gun Guys.

1/2/08 – Sadly, the New Year began with gun violence in Chicago, resulting in two deaths. However, the positive impact of gun violence prevention strategies was demonstrated by the fact that Chicago in 2007 reached its lowest number of murders since 1965. Click here to read the story in the Chicago Sun Times.

11/18/07 – Nina Vinik, Legal Director for the Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV), discusses how easy it is for anyone to access guns and the need for common-sense laws that help limit gun access by criminals. To read her letter in response to a Chicago Tribune editorial, click here.

11/9/07 – The Illinois State Police has proposed a rule that would impose a minimum age for applying for and carrying a FOID card of 10 years of age (with parental permission). The issue was brought to attention by the case of “Baby Bubba,” a 10 month-old baby who was issued a FOID card with an ID photograph of the infant last spring. In a recent letter to the Department, Legal Community Against Violence and ICPGV support regulations setting an age requirement, but recommend a minimum age of 18 as opposed to 10. With no federal minimum age for sales of long guns by private sellers, current law allows children of any age to purchase rifles (including assault rifles) or shotguns from any private seller, as long as they hold a FOID card. Because of the health and safety risks that firearms pose to children, there is no reason children under 18 should have the ability to own and purchase these dangerous guns.  Click here to read the letter to the Illinois State Police.

10/19/07 – Thom Mannard, Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, raises the issue of public safety in response to law enforcement’s discovery that a Mundelein resident had 600 firearms in his home. To read his Op-Ed piece in the Daily Herald click here.

10/9/07 – Dr. James Webster, President of the Chicago Board of Health and ICPGV Advisory Group member, asked Illinois legislators to take a stand against gun violence and to “publicly declare that over the next year, before the next election, you will work and support common sense efforts to make…all of Illinois free of gun-related deaths.” To read his letter, click here.

9/19/07 – The International Association of Chiefs of Police release specific recommendations to reduce gun violence in the report Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities.

9/10/07 – The Children’s Memorial Research Center, Illinois Violent Death Reporting System report was highlighted in an interview with Advisory Group member Kathleen Monahan on Chicago Public Radio. Click here to listen.

9/07/07 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report showing an alarming rise in suicides among young people titled Suicide Trends Among Youths and Young Adults Aged 10--24 Years --- United States, 1990—2004.

8/31/07 – SB 940 (Kotowski), Bill closing loopholes in mental health background checks was signed into law today by Governor Blagojevich!  Click here to the enrolled bill language for SB 940.

7/03/07 – Click here to read an op-ed by Mayor Richard M. Daley about the state government’s responsibilities to children, including protection from gun violence.

6/27/07 – Gun violence escalates as the overtime legislative session continues. Click here to read recent media coverage about the spike in gun violence, killing 25 Chicago public school children in the last year.

6/19/07 – There has been increased public outrage and media attention on the impact of gun violence in Illinois this week as the legislature continues to deliberate. Click here to read recent media coverage surrounding statewide protests to end gun violence.

6/12/07 – SB 940 (Kotowski),  which will close loopholes in mental health background checks, is now at the Governor’s desk! We urge you to contact Governor Blagojevich and encourage him to sign this important legislation.

6/05/07 – SB 940 (Kotowski), which will close loopholes in mental health background checks for firearm purchasers, passed the House last Thursday, May 31st with a 108-7 vote!

5/29/07 – In this final week of session in the state legislature, ICPGV will be focused passing the following bills: SB 1007 (Kotowski), SB 940 (Kotowski), HB 758 (Osterman), and HB 1696 (Molaro). These common-sense regulations will help law enforcement keep handguns out of the hands of criminals and other prohibited purchasers, and keep the most lethal ammunition magazines off the streets. We need your help to make sure that these bills succeed in the House this week.

Click here to call and write your Representative and let them know why they should vote yes on these bills!

To read about common-sense gun policies and Illinois politics, click here.

5/18/07 – SB 940 (Kotowski), Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s bill closing loopholes in mental health background checks, passed out of the Senate today with a 51-4 vote!

5/15/07 – We need your help to make sure that HB 758 (Osterman), HB 1696 (Molaro), and SB 1007 (Kotowski) succeed in the House this week. These common-sense regulations will help law enforcement keep handguns out of the hands of criminals and other prohibited purchasers, and keep the most lethal ammunition magazines off the streets. Click here to call and write your Representative and let them know why they should vote yes on these bills!

5/08/07 – Within the last few weeks, there has been a good deal of grassroots activity and media coverage generated by ICPGV in anticipation and in response to votes on the policy options of the campaign. Click here to read the media coverage generated by the campaign.

5/01/07 - SB 1007, co-sponsored by Senators Wilhelmi, Jones and Millner, was amended by Senator Kotowski to prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase, and possession of any large capacity ammunition feeding device, like the one purportedly used in the Virginia Tech shootings. Large capacity magazines significantly increase the lethality of automatic and semi-automatic firearms because of their ability to hold so many rounds of ammunition.

Read the Cook County State’s Attorney and ICPGV advisory group member, Richard Devine’s recent letter to the editor, "Gun Bills Would Make Our Streets Safer,” in the Chicago Sun Times.

Listen to ICPGV advisory group member Jennifer Bishop’s commentary on WBEZ 91.5 FM about loopholes in Illinois handgun background checks, click here.  Click here to read recent media coverage related to ICPGV.

4/24/07 – Read the Sun Times Commentary on gun violence and the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, “ Deny Easy Gun Access to Dangerous People.” For more media coverage related to ICPGV, click here.

To read the Legal Community Against Violence statement about the Virginia Tech shootings click here.

4/17/07 – The Virginia Tech University tragedy has been widely covered in the media, including commentary by LCAV. To hear Nina Vinik, Legal Director for the Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV), talk about gun control and violence in wake of the largest shooting in US history at Virginia Tech, click here.

ICPGV urges you to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and to call your state legislators and urge them to support common-sense gun regulations in the wake of this senseless tragedy. Click here to learn how.

4/10/2007 – First-ever Great Lakes Summit on Firearm Violence, sponsored by the Joyce Foundation, brings law enforcement officials and policymakers together to turn the tide on gun violence. Click here  to read the press release.

Also, a recently released National Opinion Research Center (NORC) poll shows increased support for firearm regulation nationwide. Click here to read the press release.

4/2/2007 - Take action to help support the policy goals of Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence! Use the ICPGV Toolkit for tactics, tips, and tools on writing letters to the editor and contacting your state legislators.

3/28/2007 – The media coverage page has been updated with articles about the ICPGV 2007 Voter Survey on Gun Regulations, as well as other recent gun policy articles.  Also, see pictures from the 3/21 Chicago and Springfield press events announcing the results of the survey.

3/21/2007 – At press events in both Chicago and Springfield, ICPGV announced the results of the largest and first-ever publicly released bi-partisan poll commissioned to gauge voters’ attitudes about proposed changes to state gun laws.

• To find out more information about the poll, click here
• To read the press release, click here

3/12/2007 - “Violent Crime in America: 24 Months of Alarming Trends,” released by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) on 3/9/2007, shows that despite an overall decline in crime nationwide, there has been a rise in gun-related crime, particularly in mid-western cities.

• Click here to read the study.
• To read local media coverage of the study, click here.

3/5/2007 - ICPGV.ORG launch!  The website supports ICPGV's goal of educating the public and policymakers about the case for meaningful gun violence prevention policies.