HB2354 Update - Firearm Restraining Order - Emergency Intervention

[Molly B.]

Update -

 

 

We have been in conversation about this bill with some of the most knowledgeable Second Amendment attorneys and 2A experts in the nation. In their opinion this is one of, if not the best bills of its kind.

 

We started out with HB772 Lethal Violence Order of Protection which was an outrageous gun grab bill. We all fought with everything we had to defeat that version and then went on to fight to amend this version. At times it felt like a knockdown, drag out fight in the ring, at other times it was more like peace negotiations in the middle east - never easy. Nonetheless, we were able to change this monstrosity around and now the experts are telling us this bill is now more of an Emergency Intervention bill that addresses more of the real problems of mentally ill who are a danger, domestic abusers who are a danger, and those threatening terrorist acts. This bill could possibly set a new standard by which these emergency situations can be deescalated and lives saved, referring to the Waffle House, Parkland High School, and the like.

 

The attorneys seem to think the bill meets due process and constitutional muster because the order is not final until the firearm owner has their day in court, which must happen quickly.

 

What makes this bill exceptional compared to the gun grab bills:

 

1. The requirement for clear and convincing evidence is a high bar to provide and is one of the highest standards in the country.

 

2. The order is not final until the person has their day in court and that must happen within 14 days. This could even happen as early as that day or the next.

 

3. Ownership is not prohibited and the firearms can be transferred to someone the person trusts for safekeeping.

 

4. Property is returned without need to petition the court.

 

5. If the clear and convincing evidence of being a danger is indicative of a mental illness, the judge can issue an order for a mental health evaluation.

 

6. If the clear and convincing evidence of being a danger is indicative of a criminal act/terrorism, charges can be filed and an arrest warrant can be issued at the same time.

 

7. In the meantime, the firearms are removed from the scene and taken into safe keeping until the orders are dismissed or expire.

 

8. FOID/CCL could be suspended instead of revoked (if there are no additional circumstances that would make the person ineligible for a FOID/CCL). These would then be reinstated when the order is dismissed or expires. If you have been following the nightmare we have with FOID/CCL appeals, you know this is a HUGE win.

 

9. The penalty for false testimony is a felony and is another deterrent for abusing the process.

 

There are a few tweaks we would like to see and the sponsors have agreed to a trailer bill. We know trailer bills do not always happen but the major issues we fought for are in this bill. It's better than Indiana, better even than Florida's, in my opinion.

 

Where we are now - If the Gov. signs the bill as is, with the current promise for a trailer bill from the sponsors, we get a reasonable Emergency Intervention bill now with the little fixes to come in the new session.

 

If the Gov. vetoes or amendatory vetoes the bill, the risk is real that the whole bill will be lost and we lose all the hard work we put into getting amendments in this bill and would have to start over. In the meantime, heaven forbid if there is another killing (or worse, one in IL) - the hysteria would then drive the legislative language and it would be impossible to hold it back. If that happens, most legislators will be afraid to not support a bad bill for fear of appearing uncaring to the victims and their families.

 

I think most of us are very concerned about abuse of the process because we've seen what happens with regular orders of protection. In the next legislative session, I would like to see us take that issue on and increase the level of evidence for an OP to match this bill's requirement for clear and convincing evidence before an order of protection can be issued.

 

Unlike most all proposed bills we see, this one actually addresses an issue that needs to be addressed. During the many years my husband and I were terrorized by a mentally ill family member, had this been law, it would have been a great help to us. We can identify with potential victims and we see the real world need for an emergency intervention bill like this.

 

[Euler]

HB2354 was sent to the governor on 6/28. Previously IllinoisCarry's position on this bill was neutral with the adopted amendments.

It sounds like we should call Rauner and urge him to sign it. It's too late for Friday now. Monday should be good enough, I suppose.

[steveTA84]

This doesn’t look bad at all on paper

[Euler]

FYI, I believe Rauner's phone # is 217-782-0244.

[Patriots & Tyrants]

4. Property is returned without need to petition the court.

 

Is "returned" clearly defined, as in a timeline within the law? Otherwise expect Dart to never return anything without a lawsuit.

[MagSlap]

5. If the clear and convincing evidence of being a danger is indicative of a mental illness, the judge can issue an order for a mental health evaluation.

 

This their 'in'... What constitutes 'convincing evidence'...

An argument with a neighbor where he claims "he 'said' he was gonna kill me'??

 

I dont buy it....

A 'he said she said' situation can have you tossed into a booby hatch and your 2A rights STRIPPED from you...

Funny....I recall an eastern country carrying out such 'mental health' judgements as a matter of course not so many decades ago....

 

This guy gets tossed in jail for a 'hate crime'...

“You should not be wearing that in the United States of America,” Trybus tells her.

The cop who thought nothing serious of it...resigns...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-cook-county-forest-preserves-investigation-20180710-story.html

Gee..I can only image what would happen to somebody who owns guns!

 

Just another 'law' that takes another piece of our 2A rights 'cake' and leaving us with crumbs.

 

http://www.doodnet.com/images/guncontrolguide.jpg

[Euler]

... What constitutes 'convincing evidence'...

The same standard that would have a judge detain a person as a danger to himself or others even if firearms weren't involved.

[MagSlap]

 

... What constitutes 'convincing evidence'...

The same standard that would have a judge detain a person as a danger to himself or others even if firearms weren't involved.

 

 

You should re-read what you just said...

If such a thing were to occur..they would take you guns ANYWAY....

So..why do we need this law?

Let me anwer that ....Its just another gun grab.

Once you get into that situation...you are 'in the system'...and its money, money and more money to PROVE yourself innocent....

[steveTA84]

5. If the clear and convincing evidence of being a danger is indicative of a mental illness, the judge can issue an order for a mental health evaluation.

 

This their 'in'... What constitutes 'convincing evidence'...

An argument with a neighbor where he claims "he 'said' he was gonna kill me'??

 

I dont buy it....

A 'he said she said' situation can have you tossed into a booby hatch and your 2A rights STRIPPED from you...

Funny....I recall an eastern country carrying out such 'mental health' judgements as a matter of course not so many decades ago....

 

This guy gets tossed in jail for a 'hate crime'...

“You should not be wearing that in the United States of America,” Trybus tells her.

The cop who thought nothing serious of it...resigns...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-cook-county-forest-preserves-investigation-20180710-story.html

Gee..I can only image what would happen to somebody who owns guns!

 

Just another 'law' that takes another piece of our 2A rights 'cake' and leaving us with crumbs.

 

http://www.doodnet.com/images/guncontrolguide.jpg

My favorite meme

[2A4Cook]

4. Property is returned without need to petition the court.

 

Is "returned" clearly defined, as in a timeline within the law? Otherwise expect Dart to never return anything without a lawsuit.

if the guns can be placed with someone the owner trusts, I would assume upon the expiration or dismissal of the petition or temporary order, the trustee would merely transfer the Firearms back to the owner.

[Euler]

 

 

... What constitutes 'convincing evidence'...

The same standard that would have a judge detain a person as a danger to himself or others even if firearms weren't involved.

 

You should re-read what you just said...

If such a thing were to occur..they would take you guns ANYWAY....

 

Sometimes perfectly sane people have criminal intent.

[MagSlap]

 

 

Sometimes perfectly sane people have criminal intent.

===========

 

So now you are arguing outside the proposed law...

Gee...I thought it was a mental health thing?

So...I guess with that 'point' of yours the only answer is to just ban all guns....right?

 

Just to point out the obvious...no court..no judge can infer what is in the heart of a person.

Once you cross that threshhold that you seem to imply...without having committed any crime, you can be put away based on an 'evaluation'. And those standards for such will be a slippery slope.

"I dont like your shirt".

RACIST!!!

Lock em up.

 

You dont think so...Look around...

[Hap]

One of the sponsors of this bill is my representative, Rep. Steven Reick. In contrast to the ILGA reps in my old hometown, Rep. Reick has consistently supported the 2nd Amendment and has consistently voted "no" on the dozens of bad bills which have come up this year. That Reick not only supports but is a sponsor of this bill suggests that it's probably a pretty good one.

[Molly B.]

4. Property is returned without need to petition the court.

 

Is "returned" clearly defined, as in a timeline within the law? Otherwise expect Dart to never return anything without a lawsuit.

 

We have seen delays in returning firearms in Chicago, but there is the option to transfer to someone the person trusts or to an FFL.

[Molly B.]

 

 

You should re-read what you just said...

If such a thing were to occur..they would take you guns ANYWAY....

So..why do we need this law?

Let me anwer that ....Its just another gun grab.

Once you get into that situation...you are 'in the system'...and its money, money and more money to PROVE yourself innocent....

 

No, they can't "take your guns away anyway". They can revoke your FOID and send you a form letter saying you have 48 hrs. to transfer firearms and ammunition over to local law enforcement along with an inventory of said firearms. It becomes illegal for you to be in possession but no action taken to remove the firearms.

[mic6010]

Thanks for all the hard work you do. But its still guilty until proven innocent based on nothing more than hearsay. Its a bad law anyway you look at it.

And in this state its no doubt it will be abused and used against otherwise unsuspecting gun owners.

But I'm guessing this is gonna be the first of many anti gun bills that will be shoved down our throats over the next year. So lets get on with it.

[Euler]

Sometimes perfectly sane people have criminal intent.

===========

 

 

So now you are arguing outside the proposed law...

Nope.

[Molly B.]

Thanks for all the hard work you do. But its still guilty until proven innocent based on nothing more than hearsay. Its a bad law anyway you look at it.

And in this state its no doubt it will be abused and used against otherwise unsuspecting gun owners.

But I'm guessing this is gonna be the first of many anti gun bills that will be shoved down our throats over the next year. So lets get on with it.

 

No, it is not hearsay. It must be clear and convincing evidence, this is a high bar. In my situation, I had the letters, the phone messages, and family and neighbors as witnesses. The answer back then was, "we can't do anything because he hasn't hurt anyone yet".

[mic6010]

 

Thanks for all the hard work you do. But its still guilty until proven innocent based on nothing more than hearsay. Its a bad law anyway you look at it.

And in this state its no doubt it will be abused and used against otherwise unsuspecting gun owners.

But I'm guessing this is gonna be the first of many anti gun bills that will be shoved down our throats over the next year. So lets get on with it.

 

No, it is not hearsay. It must be clear and convincing evidence, this is a high bar. In my situation, I had the letters, the phone messages, and family and neighbors as witnesses. The answer back then was, "we can't do anything because he hasn't hurt anyone yet".

 

Whats the definition of clear and convincing evidence ? And is that evidence taken into account before you lose your rights, or up to 14 days after the men with guns come into your home and take those rights away from you ? Are people really gonna be charged with a felony for calling someone in mistakenly ? Or is it gonna be a case of "better safe than sorry" in the eyes of the system.

[geo.ulrich]

And the question with # 9, It would be a felony for a false report ,,,,, Only if they are charged and PROSECUTED... this should be mandatory

[Euler]

 

No, it is not hearsay. It must be clear and convincing evidence, this is a high bar. In my situation, I had the letters, the phone messages, and family and neighbors as witnesses. The answer back then was, "we can't do anything because he hasn't hurt anyone yet".

Whats the definition of clear and convincing evidence ? And is that evidence taken into account before you lose your rights, or up to 14 days after the men with guns come into your home and take those rights away from you ? Are people really gonna be charged with a felony for calling someone in mistakenly ? Or is it gonna be a case of "better safe than sorry" in the eyes of the system.

 

Clear and convincing proof means that the evidence presented by a party during the trial (or petition in this case) must be highly and substantially more probable to be true than not and the trier of fact (i.e., the judge) must have a firm belief or conviction in its factuality.

 

Clear and convincing evidence is the burden of proof that has to be met as a condition of the original order, i.e., before it's even issued.

 

Whether anyone is ever charged for a crime they committed is always at the discretion of the prosecutor. The intent of the felony charge for false reporting is more about making false reporters accountable for malice rather than mistakes, whatever you mean by mistakes. ("When he said he was going to kill them all, I thought he meant schoolchildren, not the mice in his barn." ???) In any case, the anonymous tip line is gone, gone, gone.

[mic6010]

 

 

No, it is not hearsay. It must be clear and convincing evidence, this is a high bar. In my situation, I had the letters, the phone messages, and family and neighbors as witnesses. The answer back then was, "we can't do anything because he hasn't hurt anyone yet".

Whats the definition of clear and convincing evidence ? And is that evidence taken into account before you lose your rights, or up to 14 days after the men with guns come into your home and take those rights away from you ? Are people really gonna be charged with a felony for calling someone in mistakenly ? Or is it gonna be a case of "better safe than sorry" in the eyes of the system.

 

Clear and convincing proof means that the evidence presented by a party during the trial (or petition in this case) must be highly and substantially more probable to be true than not and the trier of fact (i.e., the judge) must have a firm belief or conviction in its factuality.

 

Clear and convincing evidence is the burden of proof that has to be met as a condition of the original order, i.e., before it's even issued.

 

Whether anyone is ever charged for a crime they committed is always at the discretion of the prosecutor. The intent of the felony charge for false reporting is more about making false reporters accountable for malice rather than mistakes, whatever you mean by mistakes. ("When he said he was going to kill them all, I thought he meant schoolchildren, not the mice in his barn." ???) In any case, the anonymous tip line is gone, gone, gone.

 

Thanks for answering my questions.

[Euler]

If someone is apparently so immediately dangerous that you need to take away their constitutional rights, why are they not in a jail or a hospital?

Why is there this middle ground?

People aren't criminal until after they commit crimes.

Not all people who intend violent crimes are insane.

[TomKoz]

Just more 2nd Amendment Rights arent really Rights at all !!

 

Recent events show clear and present dangerous people can use cars, trucks, knives, matches, and bic lighters to harm and kill people.

 

WHY just remove suspected / reported peoples Firearms ???

 

Will gov also remove their cars, trucks, drivers license, knives, matches & lighters ??

 

I CALL BS !!! Just a way to lessen and chip away at 2nd Amendment !!

[Molly B.]

 

 

That makes perfectly logical sense.

 

Now explain to me how If people aren't insane, and aren't criminals why their rights should be taken away? Explain to me how someone that is considered a "clear and present danger" shouldn't be in jail. Shouldn't we be extending criminal and mental illness definitions to include and take care of these people rather than to create these carve outs? Rather than to leave them on the streets? So you ATTEMPT to take away their access to firearms. What does that really solve? They are still free in society, I mean if they were so dangerous surely they shouldn't be?

 

 

 

That is covered in #5 and #6. They wouldn't necessarily be left free in society, this works in conjunction with other options the court has. If the clear and convincing evidence is criminal in nature, a warrant for arrest can be issued at the same time. If there is evidence of mental illness, a court order for mental evaluation can be issued. Temporarily removing the firearms is another tool when evidence shows the person could be a danger to self and/or others.

[Molly B.]

If someone is apparently so immediately dangerous that you need to take away their constitutional rights, why are they not in a jail or a hospital?

Why is there this middle ground?

I don't know why you think they wouldn't be either in a hospital or jail. This is not really designed as a stand alone option. This is an extra tool to use in addition to the other options. It would be, in my opinion, a very irresponsible judge to use this as a stand alone action.

[TomKoz]

 

If someone is apparently so immediately dangerous that you need to take away their constitutional rights, why are they not in a jail or a hospital?

Why is there this middle ground?

 

I don't know why you think they wouldn't be either in a hospital or jail. This is not really designed as a stand alone option. This is an extra tool to use in addition to the other options. It would be, in my opinion, a very irresponsible judge to use this as a stand alone action.

Purple On : and we KNOW judges are NEVER irresponsible !! How long did it take us in Illinois to get a judge to side WITH us ??

[TomKoz]

Here is what comes to mind. Something about giving up some Freedom for a little bit of perceived security !!!

 

HEY, but we just Got to do something! Sounds like my IL State Senator John Curran !!

[TomKoz]

Here is what comes to mind. Something about giving up some Freedom for a little bit of perceived security !!!

HEY, but we just Got to do something! Sounds like my IL State Senator John Curran !!

Bump

[MagSlap]

After posting to this thread....

I went and picked up some ammo (Its raining this weekend...so passing on car shows. I'll use those funds for range time )

Had somebody 'bumped into me' at the local wallyworld...and they 'went off'...cops called... They said "I was Ka-Razy"...

BOOM! Lets apply this 'new gun law'...

 

Again..I...don't...buy...it...

Its just another 'tool'...to get gun owners 'into the system'.

Tell me..when was the last time anybody was prosecuted for accusing a 'gun owner' of anything?

Bueller? Bueller?

 

BTW...scored a 200 pack of federal 9mm brass for 33 bux(new packaging I havent seen 'till tonight)

And...for the first time in YEARS...Federal Red box 22 550 packs(New packaging) for 19.97. They had a BUNCH. So grabbed just one brick. Am I late to the party on this? Cuz It put a smile on my face to find it.