Kane County Reporter

Veteran state Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) has seen enough of Illinois' rising violent crime rate.  

“Three weeks ago Senate Republicans filed a package of bills designed to go right after the heart of violent crime to help get illegal guns off the streets, to keep the worst of the worst offenders off our streets and to provide our law-enforcement community with a major injection of resources,” DeWitte said at an Oct. 26 news conference on the issue. “One bill, the Fund the Police Act, would make a historic investment in law enforcement for training, hiring and retention with more boots on the ground.”

Supporters of the measure also point out it earmarks more resources across the state for services like mental health programs. Given the high stakes, DeWitte added he’s baffled why lawmakers in Springfield haven’t taken quicker action.

“Following that filing, we sent letters to the appropriate members of Senate leadership asking that these bills be released to committee to be heard, debated and eventually voted on in veto session,” he said. “We received no response from any of the chairs, indicating that discussing the public safety and supporting our police officers in this state must not be important enough for their criminal justice committee to address.”

As the violence only seems to get worse, DeWitte argues that one thing has become clear for all to see.

“The Democrats' approach is not working,” he said. “The people of Illinois want and need their legislators to find solutions to this very serious violent crime problem in our state. They want to see accountability. They want violent offenders put in jail, because the Democrats have ignored our bills we are now obviously short on time for their consideration during the veto session.”

In response, DeWitte said Republicans filed the package of legislation as an amendment onto Senate Bill 1291.

“That bill is already on third reading,” he said. “We could begin the process today and pass this vital legislation. Instead, the war on victims continues in the state of Illinois.”

Filed in April, SB 1291 originally sought to amend the Probation Challenge Program Act. Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie filed the original bill and serves as a co-sponsor of the measure.