Illegal gun flow continues despite drop in number of licensed dealers

(The Center Square) – Law enforcement and crime analysts are battling the flow of illegal guns in Illinois.

Kim Smith, director of programs at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education lab, said 60% of the firearms recovered by the Chicago Police Department come from outside of the state of Illinois.

“But, the primary source state of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago is Illinois, so 40% of those firearms are coming from Illinois,” Smith said during a panel discussion on the topic hosted by The City Club of Chicago.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said proving straw purchases is a challenge. Kelly said the laws are there, but establishing evidence can be tricky.

“There’s a reason why you don’t see a lot of these straw purchaser charges, because you really at times have to have almost a straight-up confession. Yeah, I bought it for my cousin. I bought it for my boyfriend. I bought it for my son,” Kelly said.

Kelly said firearms certification and dealer inspections have been helpful in stemming the flow of unlawful weapons. He said the number of Illinois gun dealers with federal firearms licenses dropped dramatically in recent years.

The Firearm License Dealer Certification program was signed into law in 2019. The measure requires all federal firearm dealers operating in the state to be certified by the Illinois State Police.

Since then, Kelly said Illinois has gone from more than than 2,000 dealers with Federal Firearms Licenses to under 1,000 authorized dealers.

“The inspection regime that we do of those gun dealers that are still here, again there’s very few violations we’re finding because they are abiding by that,” Kelly said.

Kelly added that inspections have helped members of law enforcement build relationship with dealers.

“Some gun dealers are saying, ‘Hey, I’m abiding by these rules, but ABC dealer down the street, I’ve heard they maybe have some problems,” Kelly said.