The proposed legislation would increase the penalty for felons who carry guns, from two years to three years, with subsequent offenses requiring a minimum of five years. The proposal also calls for an increase of the minimum sentence for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when the offender does not possess a valid FOID card and the gun is in their possession and loaded, boosting it from a one year minimum to three years. The law, if passed, would also add these specific gun crimes to the list of  crimes that are subject to the Truth in Sentences guidelines, requiring that offenders serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

 

“Criminals continue to escape with minor sentences for possessing and using firearms, and these light penalties do not reflect the severity of their crimes nor the damage they cause our communities,” said Mayor Emanuel in a statement.  “Increasing these penalties and requiring minimum sentences will ensure criminals are held accountable and discourage criminals from carrying and using guns.”

In 2012, the Chicago Police Department recovered more than 7,400 guns, including 300 assault weapons, making the number of guns recovered in Chicago higher than any other city in the U.S.

"While we are committed to getting this legislation passed, we cannot wait for it to wind its way through the legislature,” Alvarez said. “We must act now to get gun-toting gangbangers off our streets. To that end, I will be issuing a directive to all prosecutors in my office that they shall seek only the maximum penalty allowable by the present law for gun offenders who are responsible for the violence that is plaguing our communities."