The Cook County, Illinois, state’s attorney is proposing a law that would allow non-violent, first-time offenders charged with illegally possessing firearms to participate in a program so they can get a license to own the weapons legally.
Newsweek reached out to the office for Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke for additional comment and was directed to the original press release.
Why It Matters
Burke’s proposition comes amid rising gun violence concerns. The Trace, a non-profit outlet devoted to gun-related news, reported there were 499 mass shootings in 2024, while Gun Violence Archive shows 32 mass shootings in 2025 thus far. Each incident reignites the fierce debate about gun control, and politicians fall on both sides of the argument with some appearing unable to answer how to address the problem . The web page for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention that was once on the White House website is now offline.
The law in Illinois currently allows citizens to carry handguns if they have a valid firearm owner’s identification card.
What To Know
Burke’s office announced the program in a press release on Friday. The changes were introduced by Democratic State Senator Elgie Sims Jr., who represents the 17 th District of Illinois which includes Chicago, as well as Democratic State Representative Justin Slaughter, who represents the 27 th district including Chicago…