Illinois House Bill HB3885

Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/17/23
• Refer: 2/28/23
• Refer: 2/17/23
• Refer: 3/10/23

Caption

ASSAULT WEAPONS-BUYBACK

Impact

The passage of HB3885 is likely to have significant implications for firearm regulations in Illinois. By setting up a buyback program, the state aims to encourage individuals to turn in their firearms voluntarily, potentially leading to a decrease in gun-related incidents. The bill emphasizes increased control over weapons classified as assault weapons and seeks to facilitate the management of such firearms by transferring them to the Illinois State Police for destruction, training, or redistribution to local law enforcement agencies.

Summary

House Bill 3885 introduces amendments to the Reimagine Public Safety Act, establishing a buyback program aimed at reducing the prevalence of assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices in the state of Illinois. The bill tasks the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention with overseeing this program, which will operate subject to state appropriation. It allows for the purchase of operable assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices from owners who wish to sell them to the state, while permanently inoperable weapons will not be eligible for this buyback initiative.

Contention

While proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary step towards reducing gun violence and improving public safety, critics may raise concerns over the implications of the buyback program on personal property rights and the overall effectiveness of such measures in preventing crime. Some may question whether the investment in a buyback program will yield measurable results in terms of violence reduction compared to other potential strategies, such as more stringent regulation of firearm sales. Moreover, the allocation of budgetary resources for this program may face scrutiny in a broader context of state financial priorities.