Tag: legislation
The Veterans Community Advisory Committee is a place for veterans and/or their families to share their thoughts and experiences on Illinois legislation and how it affects military veterans, their families, and communities.
Please contact office@repmaura49.com to request the zoom link.
WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, issued the following statement regarding the tragic homicide that took place over the weekend in Villa Park.
“The murder of Julie Elguezabal is a tragedy and another unacceptable loss resulting from the intersection of domestic violence and firearms. While we collectively condemn this horrific act of violence, we must also collectively take action to right this wrong. Legislation that would remove firearms from the hands of domestic abusers remains stalled in the Illinois State Senate. Karina’s Bill (SB 2633) would allow judges to issue search warrants along with orders of protection so that law enforcement can search homes and immediately remove firearms from domestic abusers. Compared to this time last year, there is a 65% increase in the number of victims killed in firearm-related incidents across Illinois, according to The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. We cannot let this trend continue and must pass this lifesaving bill this session.
In response to Julie Elguezabal’s murder, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin was quoted as saying, ‘Perhaps a legislative fix or internal remedy could improve this outcome.’ On this point, I agree with the State’s Attorney — passing Karina’s Bill and giving law enforcement the tools they need to directly confiscate guns from domestic abusers will save lives. I encourage all of us in positions of leadership to ensure these safeguards are in place to protect survivors who are seeking to leave violent relationships.
Each day that passes without action on Karina’s Bill means more lives shattered and more futures stolen. We owe it to every victim and their families to ensure that they have the protection they need to reclaim their safety. My heart is with the family of Julie Elguezabal, and for hopefully the last time, I say: enough is enough. It is time that we pass Karina’s Bill and end the cycle of firearm-involved domestic violence homicides.”
Springfield Office:
271-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653
District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #104
West Chicago IL 60185
The Veterans Community Advisory Committee is a place for veterans and/or their families to share their thoughts and experiences on Illinois legislation and how it affects military veterans, their families, and communities.
Please contact office@repmaura49.com to request the zoom link.
The Veterans Community Advisory Committee is a place for veterans and/or their families to share their thoughts and experiences on Illinois legislation and how it affects military veterans, their families, and communities.
Please contact office@repmaura49.com to request the zoom link.
The Veterans Community Advisory Committee is a place for veterans and/or their families to share their thoughts and experiences on Illinois legislation and how it affects military veterans, their families, and communities.
Please contact office@repmaura49.com to request the zoom link.
The Veterans Community Advisory Committee is a place for veterans and/or their families to share their thoughts and experiences on Illinois legislation and how it affects military veterans, their families, and communities.
Please contact office@repmaura49.com to request the zoom link.
Members of the Illinois House of Representatives Democratic Women’s Caucus and allies release the following statement:
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the recent gun violence that has again struck our state and our nation. How many people must die before addressing the deadly intersection between domestic violence and firearms? This fatal combination was again painfully evident in the recent murder of Adrianna Lopez, who was shot and killed allegedly by an abusive ex-boyfriend who also shot an Illinois State Trooper. These incidents are grim reminders that the ripple effects of trauma echo far beyond the intimate relationship – affecting children who live with and witness it, and the family members, and law enforcement who respond to it.
The tragic events that unfolded in Maine are all too common, and we cannot relent in our mission to get weapons of war off our streets and out of our communities. Though details are still emerging, early news reports have suggested the suspect, Robert Card may have a history of domestic violence. A recent study showed that in more than two-thirds of mass shootings, the perpetrator either killed family or intimate partners or the shooter had a history of domestic violence.
“While we have made progress in recent years to combat the gun violence epidemic, our work is far from over. We have one more week of the veto session upcoming, and collectively, we urge the General Assembly to pass additional legislation like Karina’s Bill to combat gun violence and get guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.”
Rep. Dagmara Avelar-85th
Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock-46th
Rep. Mary Beth Canty-54th
Rep. Kelly Cassidy-14th
Rep. Sharon Chung-91st
Rep. Terra Costa Howard-42nd
Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado-3rd
Rep. Laura Faver Dias-62nd
Leader Robyn Gabel-18th
Rep. Mary Gill-35th
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz-17th
Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar-22nd
Rep. Will Guzzardi-39th
Leader Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez-2nd
Leader Barbara Hernandez-50th
Rep. Norma Hernandez-77th
Rep. Maura Hirschauer-49th
Rep. Hoan Huynh-13th
Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass-45th
Rep. Lindsey Lapointe-19th
Leader Natalie Manley-98th
Leader Theresa Mah-24th
Rep. Joyce Mason-61st
Rep. Anna Moeller-43rd
Rep. Michelle Mussman-56th
Rep. Suzanne Ness-66th
Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid-21st
Rep. Anne Stava-Murray-81st, Women’s Caucus Chair
Rep. Nabeela Syed-51st
Rep. Ann M Williams-11th
Rep. Janet Yang Rohr-41st
Learn more about Karina’s Bill.
The intersection of intimate partner violence and gun violence is deadly and the ripple effects of the trauma echo far beyond the intimate relationship – affecting children who live with and witness it, and the family members, coworkers, and law enforcement who respond to it. Our top priority in the legislature is keeping people safe, especially survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. An order of protection is a key tool to help protect survivors, especially as they try and leave a violent relationship.
Right now, the order of protection process is failing too many domestic violence survivors, especially when firearms are involved. When an order of protection is granted with the firearm remedy, that gun needs to be removed from the home immediately. We cannot have any ambiguity about this process, the stakes are too high.
Karina’s Bill will clarify the law and give law enforcement clear directives on removing firearms from the home. This legislation is critically important as domestic violence is on the rise both in Chicago and across our state. Last year, there were 56 domestic violence homicides across Illinois, up from 40 in 2021 and 37 in 2020. Added to the rise in domestic violence is the proliferation of firearms across our state. In the US, intimate partner homicide represents 40-50% of the murders of all women.
We have taken a number of important steps forward in gun violence prevention in Illinois in recent years, but we cannot stop doing this important work. Karina’s Bill will close loopholes and strengthen state law to keep more survivors safe and ultimately save lives.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the legislature is scheduled to be in session in a few weeks. I am going to do everything in my power to ensure this bill is passed during the Veto Session. We cannot sit by while tragedies like the one that struck Karina, Daniela, and their family continue to occur.
I applaud today’s ruling for commonsense gun safety as a lawmaker, as a Moms Demand Action volunteer, and as a mother myself.
First and foremost, I’m glad to see our Supreme Court upholding the work so many of my neighbors sent me to Springfield to do. I know there is more work to be done, so I am heartened to see that the voices of so many students, moms, and other advocates means more than the money and clout of the gun lobby. And I’m grateful to know, at least in Illinois, we will value our children more than we value guns.
We will not accept the national mania that would have us believe that seeing people massacred in our classrooms, in movie theaters, and on our streets is a price we must pay again and again.
We will act on behalf of the students who have spoken clearly about the need for change; we will comfort the parents who drop their kids off at school and say a silent prayer that they make it home safe; and we will continue the work of ending gun violence in every community in this state.
Yours sincerely,
Maura Hirschauer
Join Representative Hirschauer for an End of Session update. Learn about her sponsored or co-sponsored bills that passed, how she and her office are supporting the people of the 49th, and upcoming events and opportunities.
At this event we will be continuing our collection of feminine products for the “Not your typical school supply drive” in collaboration with Go With The Flow. Please consider a product donation to support individuals in need.
