Latest news with #FirearmsandExplosives'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois bill on governor's desk would require law enforcement to work with federal gun tracing database
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — When law enforcement finds a gun while investigating a crime scene, they can track its history on a national database called eTrace. A bill that passed both chambers of the statehouse would require all law enforcement agencies to use it. Illinois law enforcement agencies have been encouraged to partner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' software in the past. But now a bill on the governor's desk would make that mandatory. Illinois bill strengthening rules on gun storage heads to Pritzker's desk Law enforcement leaders like Kenny Winslow of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police said many of the smallest departments didn't have the resources to participate before. 'It requires a lot of staffing hours to try to back trace this,' he said. Winslow said his organization is neutral on the final proposal. While the tool can be helpful for police to connect suspects to evidence and crime scenes, he said eTrace is not perfect. 'When people think that this is simple, that you put the information to a system that fits back all the information that you want, that's not how it works.' Winslow said. 'The trace system spits back information and potential, what we call hits, and then you fall off those heads on potential leads, and then those leads potentially lead you to somebody else that may have owned a gun.' Even with the flaws Winslow feels the eTrace system has, law enforcement said it's worth the effort to try to prevent violent crime in their communities. 'When you talk about gun violence, I think it's important that we do every step we can in order to try to curb that violence,' Winslow added. Bill heading to Pritzker's desk to prevent time limit on anesthesia Gun control advocates said tracing guns is an important part to prevent gun trafficking. 'If we have data on these recovered crime guns about who the original purchasers are, we can use that as a deterrent and to hold these folks accountable so that these guns are not moved into a secondary illegal market,' Kathleen Sances, the President of G-PAC, said. Sances added requiring more participation with eTrace will help it be successful. 'We'll be able to do a better job solving these crimes, tracing these crime guns and keeping our community safe,' she said. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul was a major force behind the bill. 'We cannot truly prevent gun violence in our state unless we make sure all Illinois law enforcement agencies are using the best resources to trace crime guns,' Raoul said in a statement. The Illinois Attorney General also runs a statewide gun tracing database called Crime Gun Connect. Sances said half of all law enforcement agencies participate in that database. More information on eTrace can be found on the ATF's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Bill would require law enforcement in Minnesota to track guns recovered from crime scenes
Police in Minnesota aren't required to track guns recovered from crime scenes, but a proposal to change that had its first hearing by state lawmakers on Friday. The proposal comes less than a year after a WCCO investigation into tracing crime guns through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Tracing Center. We took you to West Virginia to see the process and showed how the trace can make a difference in solving a gun crime . Law enforcement agencies have the ability to trace guns recovered at crime scenes through the ATF for free. WCCO discovered that not all agencies in Minnesota use the system to gain investigative leads. Democratic state Senator Ron Latz saw WCCO's investigative series. His bill was introduced late Friday afternoon in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. Under the proposal, all law enforcement trace guns found at crime scenes. Latz hopes the measure will reduce violent crime, aid in the fight against gun trafficking and improve investigations. "The purpose of it is to allow investigations where guns were found at a crime scene to figure out where the gun came from, who it belonged to, how it got into the stream of commerce, and whether or not there's been previous history of it being involved in crimes as well," Latz said. "It's really, really important for law enforcement to be able to solve crimes that involve guns." Latz chairs the committee that heard the bill, which is part of his 2025 legislative agenda. The bill in the Senate won't need another hearing and will be considered to be included in a broader public safety package. There is a companion bill in the Minnesota House.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Woman caught trying to plant explosive devices at Tesla dealership
A woman in Colorado has been arrested after police caught her with explosives at a Tesla dealership, police said. The 40-year-old suspect, Lucy Grace Nelson, was arrested on Monday after the Loveland Police Department launched an 'extensive investigation' on Jan. 29 following a series of vandalizations with incendiary devices at the Tesla Dealership in Loveland, Colorado, according to a statement from the police released on Wednesday. MORE: Online content creator arrested after videos surface of her urinating on grocery store products dating back 4 years 'On Monday evening, Nelson returned to Loveland Tesla while in possession of additional incendiary devices, along with materials attributed to vandalism,' the Loveland Police Department said. 'Detectives apprehended Nelson prior to further damage occurring.' Nelson was immediately arrested and booked into the Larimer County Jail after being charged with explosives or incendiary devices use during felony, criminal mischief and criminal attempt to commit a Class 3 felony, authorities said. She was issued with a $100,000 cash surety bond following the charges. MORE: Search for man missing for nearly 2 weeks in national park intensifies 'The Loveland Police Department continues to work closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Denver Field Division, with Federal charges likely to follow,' police said. The investigation is currently open and ongoing. Woman caught trying to plant explosive devices at Tesla dealership originally appeared on
CBS News
26-02-2025
- CBS News
Police in Northern Colorado arrest suspect in Tesla dealership vandalism, incendiary device investigation
Police in Loveland arrested a suspect wanted in connection with "offensive" vandalism and incendiary device incidents at a Tesla dealership in Northern Colorado. Lucy Grace Nelson was arrested just before midnight on Monday. According to police, the investigation began on Jan. 29 after the Tesla dealership at 1606 North Lincoln Avenue was vandalized with incendiary devices discovered on the scene. Investigators said similar incidents occurred on Feb. 2 and also a few days later. Photos and video taken at the dealership during the latest incident showed several Cybertrucks and other Teslas with red spray paint across the windshields and broken glass in the lot. Investigators said that Nelson, 40, returned to Loveland Tesla while in possession of additional incendiary devices along with materials attributed to vandalism on Monday evening. Detectives said they were able to apprehend Nelson before more damage occurred. Nelson is facing several charges including explosives or incendiary devices used during felony, criminal mischief- business, and criminal attempt to commit class 3 felony. Nelson appeared in court on Tuesday and the judge issued a $100,000 surety bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 7. Loveland police said they are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Denver Field Division and federal charges are likely. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Loveland Police Department Tip Line at (970) 962-2032 or Larimer County Crime Stoppers at (970) 221-6868.
