House Republican Leader Jim Durkin announced that a bill which cracks down on repeat gun offenders went into effect on January 1. The Safe Neighborhoods Reform Act increases the sentencing for second-time gun offenders between seven and 14 years and is a step forward to reducing gun violence in Illinois.

“With the full support of community leaders and law enforcement officials, Senate Bill 1722 will now double the sentencing for offenders found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm for a second time,” Durkin said. “These second-time offenders comprise a great majority of the criminals that destroy neighborhoods in high crime areas of the state.”

The legislation was a joint effort of Illinois leaders including Governor Bruce Rauner, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Leader Durkin was House Chief Sponsor of the legislation that was signed into law on June 23, 2017.