State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]

91_SB0177

 
                                               LRB9100331RCks

 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  Criminal  Code of 1961 by adding
 2    Section 24-9.

 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section  5.  The  Criminal  Code  of  1961  is amended by
 6    adding Section 24-9 as follows:

 7        (720 ILCS 5/24-9 new)
 8        Sec. 24-9.  Loaded firearms; responsibility.
 9        (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), it is a Class A
10    misdemeanor for any person to store or leave, within premises
11    under his or her control, a  loaded  firearm  if  the  person
12    knows  or has reason to believe that a minor under the age of
13    14 years is likely to gain access to the firearm without  the
14    lawful  permission of the minor's parent, guardian, or person
15    having charge of the minor, and the  minor  causes  death  or
16    great bodily injury with the firearm, unless the firearm is:
17             (1) secured by a trigger lock mechanism;
18             (2) placed in a securely locked box or container; or
19        
20             (3)  placed in some other location that a reasonable
21        person would believe to be secure from a minor under  the
22        age of 14 years.
23        (b)  In addition, a person violating subsection (a) shall
24    be civilly liable for treble the amount of any actual damages
25    caused by the use of the firearm. A recovery of damages under
26    this  subsection  may  in  no  case  be less than $100 actual
27    damages, plus attorney fees and court costs for each  person,
28    partnership,  corporation, association, organization, or unit
29    of government entitled to enforce liability  for  damages  to
30    that entity.
31        This  subsection shall not affect the recovery of damages
 
                            -2-                LRB9100331RCks
 1    in any other cause of action in which the  liability  of  the
 2    person is predicated on a common law basis.
 3        (c)  Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply:
 4             (1)  if the minor under 14 years of age gains access
 5        to  a  loaded  firearm  and  uses  it  in a lawful act of
 6        self-defense or defense of another; or
 7             (2)  to any firearm obtained by a  minor  under  the
 8        age of 14 because of an unlawful entry of the premises by
 9        the minor or another person.

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