Chicago's top lawyer, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, is spearheading a coalition of 22 attorneys general, taking a tough stance on gun control by supporting a federal law that keeps felons from getting their hands on firearms, a move that could have major implications for public safety across the nation.
In a concerted effort to push back against a lower court's decision that declared the law unconstitutional, Raoul and his counterparts filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, a brief that contends the Second Amendment does indeed permit sensible gun regulations, this regulation seeks to prevent those with a history of serious crimes from possessing firearms, a point Raoul emphasized saying, "The federal law banning felons from possessing firearms sets a clear standard that enhances public safety,” according to a statement on the Illinois Attorney General's website.
The coalition's argument rests on the Second Amendment's allowance for governments to place "sensible and varied regulations" on gun ownership aimed at protecting the public, highlighting that nearly every state has its own regulations regarding felons handling firearms, some laws have been in place for nearly a hundred years.
Raoul's push for tighter gun control goes hand-in-hand with efforts to spread awareness of Illinois’ red flag law, bolster the firearms licensing system, target unscrupulous gun manufacturers, and support laws that increase accountability within the gun industry, with Raoul also leading national coalitions backing restrictions on firearm possession by anyone under 21, and bans on carrying firearms in what are designated as sensitive areas like schools, places of worship, and public transit systems, all part of a broader approach to curtail gun violence which Raoul has been championing in Illinois and across the country.
On the home front, the Attorney General’s office is not only looking to enforce the law but also to heal the wounds gun violence leaves behind, offering support and trauma-informed services to crime victims and their families through their Crime Victims Services Division.
The brief filed by Raoul is joined by attorneys general from states including California, New York, and Michigan, among others, marking a significant movement in the ongoing debate over gun control and the rights of convicted felons post-incarceration.
