Duckworth & Jackson Introduce Legislation to Help Reduce Gun Violence & Honor Slain Chicago Student Blair Holt

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today, on the eve of the anniversary of the tragic murder of Blair Holt, announced the introduction of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country by prohibiting unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license. The legislation, which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would also direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background checks. Had a similar system been in place at the time, it could have prevented the gunman who killed five people in Aurora, IL in 2019 from acquiring the firearm he used in the shooting.

“I don’t want my daughters to have to grow up in a country that won’t protect them from gun violence,” said Duckworth. “We owe it to the countless and growing number of gun violence victims to take action, which is why I’m proud to continue working on this common-sense solution to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. We will keep pushing until our nation’s schools, offices and public spaces are safe from gun violence.”

“I am honored to champion this bill in the House,” said Jackson. “This will go a long way to curb gun violence and save lives. This bill is in the name of Blair Holt, the son Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt; of the Chicago Fire Department. Holt has been a leading light, turning this tragedy into opportunity for meaningful change. I am proud to work with Senator Duckworth and Commissioner Holt to be the change.”

The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act—originally introduced by former U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL-01)—is named after Blair Holt, a Chicago Julian High School honor student who was gunned down protecting his friend when a gunman opened fire while they were riding home from school on a crowded public transit bus. Tomorrow marks the 17^th anniversary of his death. The legislation is modeled, in part, after the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) statute and would:

• Protect the public against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the unrecorded sale or transfer of qualifying firearms to unlicensed individuals.
• Make sure that owners of qualifying firearms are knowledgeable in the safe use, handling, and storage of those firearms.
• Restrict the availability of qualifying firearms to criminals, children, and other persons prohibited by federal law from receiving firearms.
• Require universal background checks for all purchases or transfers of firearms.
• Facilitate the tracing of qualifying firearms used in crime by federal and state law enforcement agencies.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today, on the eve of the anniversary of the tragic murder of Blair Holt, announced the introduction of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country by prohibiting unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license. The legislation, which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would also direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background checks. Had a similar system been in place at the time, it could have prevented the gunman who killed five people in Aurora, IL in 2019 from acquiring the firearm he used in the shooting.

“I don’t want my daughters to have to grow up in a country that won’t protect them from gun violence,” said Duckworth. “We owe it to the countless and growing number of gun violence victims to take action, which is why I’m proud to continue working on this common-sense solution to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. We will keep pushing until our nation’s schools, offices and public spaces are safe from gun violence.”

“I am honored to champion this bill in the House,” said Jackson. “This will go a long way to curb gun violence and save lives. This bill is in the name of Blair Holt, the son Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt; of the Chicago Fire Department. Holt has been a leading light, turning this tragedy into opportunity for meaningful change. I am proud to work with Senator Duckworth and Commissioner Holt to be the change.”

The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act—originally introduced by former U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL-01)—is named after Blair Holt, a Chicago Julian High School honor student who was gunned down protecting his friend when a gunman opened fire while they were riding home from school on a crowded public transit bus. Tomorrow marks the 17^th anniversary of his death. The legislation is modeled, in part, after the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) statute and would:

• Protect the public against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the unrecorded sale or transfer of qualifying firearms to unlicensed individuals.
• Make sure that owners of qualifying firearms are knowledgeable in the safe use, handling, and storage of those firearms.
• Restrict the availability of qualifying firearms to criminals, children, and other persons prohibited by federal law from receiving firearms.
• Require universal background checks for all purchases or transfers of firearms.
• Facilitate the tracing of qualifying firearms used in crime by federal and state law enforcement agencies.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today, on the eve of the anniversary of the tragic murder of Blair Holt, announced the introduction of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country by prohibiting unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license. The legislation, which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would also direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background checks. Had a similar system been in place at the time, it could have prevented the gunman who killed five people in Aurora, IL in 2019 from acquiring the firearm he used in the shooting.

“I don’t want my daughters to have to grow up in a country that won’t protect them from gun violence,” said Duckworth. “We owe it to the countless and growing number of gun violence victims to take action, which is why I’m proud to continue working on this common-sense solution to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. We will keep pushing until our nation’s schools, offices and public spaces are safe from gun violence.”

“I am honored to champion this bill in the House,” said Jackson. “This will go a long way to curb gun violence and save lives. This bill is in the name of Blair Holt, the son Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt; of the Chicago Fire Department. Holt has been a leading light, turning this tragedy into opportunity for meaningful change. I am proud to work with Senator Duckworth and Commissioner Holt to be the change.”

The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act—originally introduced by former U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL-01)—is named after Blair Holt, a Chicago Julian High School honor student who was gunned down protecting his friend when a gunman opened fire while they were riding home from school on a crowded public transit bus. Tomorrow marks the 17^th anniversary of his death. The legislation is modeled, in part, after the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) statute and would:

• Protect the public against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the unrecorded sale or transfer of qualifying firearms to unlicensed individuals.
• Make sure that owners of qualifying firearms are knowledgeable in the safe use, handling, and storage of those firearms.
• Restrict the availability of qualifying firearms to criminals, children, and other persons prohibited by federal law from receiving firearms.
• Require universal background checks for all purchases or transfers of firearms.
• Facilitate the tracing of qualifying firearms used in crime by federal and state law enforcement agencies.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today, on the eve of the anniversary of the tragic murder of Blair Holt, announced the introduction of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country by prohibiting unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license. The legislation, which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would also direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background checks. Had a similar system been in place at the time, it could have prevented the gunman who killed five people in Aurora, IL in 2019 from acquiring the firearm he used in the shooting.

“I don’t want my daughters to have to grow up in a country that won’t protect them from gun violence,” said Duckworth. “We owe it to the countless and growing number of gun violence victims to take action, which is why I’m proud to continue working on this common-sense solution to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. We will keep pushing until our nation’s schools, offices and public spaces are safe from gun violence.”

“I am honored to champion this bill in the House,” said Jackson. “This will go a long way to curb gun violence and save lives. This bill is in the name of Blair Holt, the son Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt; of the Chicago Fire Department. Holt has been a leading light, turning this tragedy into opportunity for meaningful change. I am proud to work with Senator Duckworth and Commissioner Holt to be the change.”

The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act—originally introduced by former U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL-01)—is named after Blair Holt, a Chicago Julian High School honor student who was gunned down protecting his friend when a gunman opened fire while they were riding home from school on a crowded public transit bus. Tomorrow marks the 17^th anniversary of his death. The legislation is modeled, in part, after the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) statute and would:

• Protect the public against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the unrecorded sale or transfer of qualifying firearms to unlicensed individuals.
• Make sure that owners of qualifying firearms are knowledgeable in the safe use, handling, and storage of those firearms.
• Restrict the availability of qualifying firearms to criminals, children, and other persons prohibited by federal law from receiving firearms.
• Require universal background checks for all purchases or transfers of firearms.
• Facilitate the tracing of qualifying firearms used in crime by federal and state law enforcement agencies.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today, on the eve of the anniversary of the tragic murder of Blair Holt, announced the introduction of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country by prohibiting unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license. The legislation, which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would also direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background checks. Had a similar system been in place at the time, it could have prevented the gunman who killed five people in Aurora, IL in 2019 from acquiring the firearm he used in the shooting.

“I don’t want my daughters to have to grow up in a country that won’t protect them from gun violence,” said Duckworth. “We owe it to the countless and growing number of gun violence victims to take action, which is why I’m proud to continue working on this common-sense solution to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. We will keep pushing until our nation’s schools, offices and public spaces are safe from gun violence.”

“I am honored to champion this bill in the House,” said Jackson. “This will go a long way to curb gun violence and save lives. This bill is in the name of Blair Holt, the son Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt; of the Chicago Fire Department. Holt has been a leading light, turning this tragedy into opportunity for meaningful change. I am proud to work with Senator Duckworth and Commissioner Holt to be the change.”

The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act—originally introduced by former U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL-01)—is named after Blair Holt, a Chicago Julian High School honor student who was gunned down protecting his friend when a gunman opened fire while they were riding home from school on a crowded public transit bus. Tomorrow marks the 17^th anniversary of his death. The legislation is modeled, in part, after the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) statute and would:

• Protect the public against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the unrecorded sale or transfer of qualifying firearms to unlicensed individuals.
• Make sure that owners of qualifying firearms are knowledgeable in the safe use, handling, and storage of those firearms.
• Restrict the availability of qualifying firearms to criminals, children, and other persons prohibited by federal law from receiving firearms.
• Require universal background checks for all purchases or transfers of firearms.
• Facilitate the tracing of qualifying firearms used in crime by federal and state law enforcement agencies.