HR0163 LRB102 17806 MST 24151 r
1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, As members of the General Assembly, we are
3		elected by the people of Illinois to debate and pass
4		meaningful legislation in their best interests; and
5		WHEREAS, When a tragedy occurs, it behooves us to
6		re-examine the status quo and decide how we can improve State
7		laws to prevent another tragedy from occurring; and
8		WHEREAS, When guns are used in the commission of a hate
9		crime, the tragedies are too often lethal; and
10		WHEREAS, Hate crimes have affected many minorities, such
11		as the African Americans who were shot dead as they prayed
12		during a Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina because of
13		someone who was filled with hate against African Americans,
14		the Jewish people who were murdered mercilessly at the Tree of
15		Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by a person who
16		hated Jews, and young people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando
17		who were hated because of their sexual orientation; and
18		WHEREAS, Anti-Asian hate has risen over the past year and
19		has reached a critical point with the gruesome shooting deaths
20		of eight people in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16, 2021, which is
21		yet another incident to be added to this long list of

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1		preventable tragedies that heightens the need to address the
2		deficiencies in our State's gun policies; and
3		WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois has led
4		the nation in gun sales; and
5		WHEREAS, With so many people obtaining guns, many for the
6		first time, we must address how we can maintain public safety
7		and prevent more tragedies by passing meaningful gun safety
8		legislation that will keep people safe; and
9		WHEREAS, As legislators, we cannot and shall not stand
10		idly by for the next person filled with hate to easily obtain
11		firearms because of weak gun laws; therefore, be it
12		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13		HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14		we commit to passing meaningful legislation that will prevent
15		people filled with hate from obtaining the means by which to
16		end innocent lives.