SPRINGFIELD – Tragic events around the country continue to highlight what happens when firearms get in the wrong hands.

In an effort to reduce access to firearms by individuals suffering from mental illness, State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) introduced a plan earlier this year that was signed today by the governor.

“We are suffering from an epidemic of gun violence in this country,” Morrison said. “Every day, we hear of more death and suffering because individuals who shouldn’t have easy access to guns have no problem obtaining firearms.”

Current Illinois law requires circuit court clerks to relay information to the Illinois State Police when a person passes through the court system and is deemed to have a mental disability or is involuntarily committed to a mental institution. The information is used to ensure FOID cards, which are required to legally own a firearm in Illinois, are not administered.

Read more ...

HIGHLAND PARK – Gun safety advocates and local and state public officials joined State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) this morning at a press conference in Highland Park in support of Senate Bill 2130, a proposal introduced by Morrison that would give Illinois municipalities the ability to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“My plan would give control to local communities who don’t think assault weapons have any place in their neighborhoods,” Morrison said. “It is entirely permissive and puts the power in local hands. At a time of continued inaction in Washington and Springfield, we must give local communities who want to protect their neighborhoods the ability to do so.”

Current Illinois law prohibits municipalities from enacting assault weapon bans. The practice was legal until 2013, when the controversial law allowing Illinois residents to carry concealed weapons was passed.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – More than $2 billion in ongoing construction projects will continue under a plan that passed the Senate today and co-sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield).

“Today’s vote guarantees a number of vital construction projects across the state continue as planned,” Morrison said. “Locally, the reconstruction of Deerfield Road between Highland Park and Deerfield was facing the potential of ceasing construction as early as tomorrow, which would have caused increased traffic delays and the potential for safety concerns for motorists.”

Deerfield Road is currently in the middle of an $18.1 million resurfacing and reconstruction project between the Metra viaduct in Deerfield and U.S. Route 41 in Highland Park. While the 2.39-mile long reconstruction project is largely paid for with federal funds, the state was facing the prospect of not being able to legally appropriate federal funds due to the lack of a finalized budget plan for Fiscal Year 2017, which begins tomorrow.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – More than $2 billion in construction projects in Illinois could grind to a halt if action isn’t taken in Springfield before Friday.

Locally, construction on the $18.1 million Deerfield Road Construction Project would cease unless legislation allowing the expenditure of funds is approved. 

“The recently announced stoppage of the Deerfield Road Reconstruction Project is just another example of why the state cannot effectively operate without a finalized budget plan in place,” State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) said. “Walking away from a major construction project that isn’t completed would not only cause horrific traffic delays but could also be a serious public safety concern for motorists.”

Read more ...