For Immediate Release
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Media Contact:
André Ory
[email protected]
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PAC ILLINOIS CELEBRATES SIGNING OF FIREARMS INDUSTRY RESPONSIBILITY ACT INTO LAW
Chicago, IL — Today, Gun Violence Prevention PAC Illinois (G-PAC) released the following statement from Kathleen Sances, CEO of G-PAC, following Governor JB Pritzker signing H.B. 218 – also known as the Firearms Industry Responsibility Act — into law. This law will hold gun manufacturers accountable through the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act for their dangerous and deceptive marketing practices, including advertising encouraging para-military or unlawful private militia activity and advertising directed to children. The bill’s signing comes on the heels of the Illinois Supreme Court ruling to uphold the state’s ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
Three months ago, G-PAC launched the #NotInOurHouse campaign to educate Illinoisans on the immunity the firearm industry enjoys and how it has targeted kids as future customers — all to advocate for the passage of this bill.
“Today, we took an important step in the fight against dangerous disinformation from the gun industry. Governor JB Prizker’s signing of the Firearms Industry Responsibility Act into law will end the gun industry’s deceitful advertising tactics and hold manufacturers accountable for the harm they have caused.”
“This win for gun safety comes a little over a year after the devastating Highland Park mass shooting. Since then, we have made tremendous strides in curbing gun violence in Illinois and setting the stage for our children to have futures free from this burden. We have shown the gun industry that we will not be complicit in their manufactured political wars to push their anti-public safety agenda for financial gain.”
About Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC)
The Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee (G-PAC) is the state’s leading gun violence advocacy organization. It was founded in 2013 to counter the political influence of the gun industry and their lobby in Springfield.