originally posted at
http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=48349#entry733565HB4290 Certified Firearms Instructor is a bill which has concerned us for some time, both in its extreme penalties and lack of safeguards. Having passed out of the House last month, it is now scheduled to be heard in Senate Judiciary on 4/29/2014.
Today's Call to Action is in 2 parts.
Step 1 - File Witness Slips Opposing HB4290
Log on to the ILGA Dashboard or Create a New Account first, then file as an OPPONENT at the link below.
HB4290 Certified Firearms Instructor = OPPONENT
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Step 2 - Contact the Sponsor
In an effort to ensure that the sponsor, Senator Michael Connelly, is aware of the many criticisms leveled against this bill, we ask every member to contact his offices immediately in order to share the information that follows. Please make a special effort to copy and paste our talking points into the body of an email, and fill the Senator's inbox at senatorconnelly21@gmail.com. Voice mail and fax are also options.
> Under HB4290 an instructor charged with falling short of the required training for a class of 20 students will face revocation of credentials, up to 1 year in prison, and a maximum $62,000 penalty
> An instructor who was the subject of a recent Illinois State Police press release, under HB4290 language, would face maximum fines and surcharges totaling $1,021,875 in addition to revocation of credentials and prison.
> HB4290 does not explain how charges against out of state instructors will be handled. Will they be extradited for trial and sentencing, or will they face nothing more than revocation of credentials with only Illinois instructors being subject to the full brunt of these outrageous penalties
> HB4290 offers no guarantee of restitution to the aggrieved students, making them the potential victim of both the instructor's and the State's indifference to their rights
> There are no safeguards against false allegations, whether made by disgruntled students, instructors in competition with the accused, or overzealous prosecutors.
> There are no safeguards against charges being leveled for the most minor misunderstanding or slight variation in length or content of training.
> HB4290 fails to differentiate between incompetent instruction, and dishonest instruction.
> In removing the possibility of court supervision, those promoting HB4290 seek to relieve the Judiciary of its Constitutionally mandated power and authority, vesting them instead in the single branch of government under their direct control
> The ISP already has the authority to revoke an instructor's teaching credentials
> The ISP already has the authority to deny or revoke a concealed carry license
> With revocation procedures already in place the purpose of HB4290 is retribution, not safety. If safety was the issue this bill would have been offered in the Fall Veto Session. If safety was the issue this bill would not have languished in the House more than 2 months in the Spring Session before debate. If safety is the issue this bill would not now be sitting idle in the Senate more than 3 weeks.
Senator Connelly can be reached as follows:
District Office
1725 S. Naperville Road,
Suite 200
Wheaton, IL 60189
VOICE: 630-682-8101
FAX: 630-682-8108
Springfield Office
M103C State House
Springfield, IL 62706
VOICE: 217-782-8192
FAX: 217-782-9586
E-mail
senatorconnelly21@gmail.com
Do remember that all contact should be respectful and business like. If you choose to call his office do recognize that you will speak to office staff who will likely know little about the bill. Make your position known in a polite and friendly way.
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