Latest news with #JohnCabello
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois lawmakers pass bill to fine gun owners for improper storage
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The 'Safe Gun Storage Act' passed the Illinois General Assembly this week, a bill that would fine gun owners for not properly securing firearms. requires new rules for storing guns in homes where children and at-risk people are present. Gun owners could be fined anywhere from $500 if weapons are not securely stored to $10,000 if an unsecured weapon is used in a crime or suicide. Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) believes the bill criminalizes lawful gun owners. 'People are going to be so confused as to what they are supposed to do. And that's what this Democrat majority wants. They want to make more law-abiding gun owners criminals,' he said. Tyler Krieter, a member of the activist group Moms Demand Action, says the bill focuses on irresponsible gun owners. 'I hear the pushback from the other side because the other side thinks that always just coming after law-abiding citizens. And no, we're not. We're coming after people who are criminals, who are irresponsible with their guns,' said Krieter. He said the bill is based on data and studies. 'About 50% of gun owners don't securely lock all their firearms away here. And 82% of the teen suicides involve a gun that belonged to a family member, it says. It's not a left or right thing. It's statistics,' Krieter said. 'Almost every member of my family owns a gun here. We all agree with this bill here. It's going to help lower down suicides among teens. It's going to help cut down on irresponsible gun owners. If you are a responsible gun owner, you have nothing to worry about.' Cabello said he doesn't agree. 'The Democrats seem to just want to go after the law-abiding citizen in constantly making it harder and harder for folks to own weapons,' he said. Critics of the bill say they plan to challenge its constitutionality if Gov. Pritzker signs it into law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois House bill bans move-in fees, but landlords fear higher rents
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois House that would ban landlords from charging 'move-in' fees, but property owners are worried the bill, if it becomes law, would create new problems, including higher rent costs. 'I mean, okay, so it's saying that they can't charge certain fees. Okay. So what they're going to do then is they're going to build … it into the rent aspect,' said Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), who opposed the bill. 'So, the rents are going to go up.' amends the Landlords and Tenants Act to prevent landlords from charging 'for the processing, reviewing, or accepting of an application, or demand any other payment, fee, or charge before or at the beginning of the tenancy.' 'I exclusively use a move-in fee instead of a security deposit because my move-in fee is considerably less than an actual security deposit,' said Tim Jenkins, organizer for Rockford Real Estate Investors. 'And I've noticed that helps a lot of residents. So it really is a cost saving measure for them.' The bill also limits the amount landlords can charge for a late fee, with a $10 maximum for the first $1,000 owed, something Paul Arena, of the Rockford Apartment Association, said he worried could drive up delinquencies. 'The majority of rents here are under $1,000, and a 1% late fee is insignificant,' he said. 'It will drive up delinquency and cause more landlords to fail. What they're effectively saying is the tenant can pay late, and the landlord has to bear the financial penalties for the tenant's lateness.' Jenkins added that if the bill does pass in the Senate, it will send ripples throughout the renting community. 'I think you're going to flush out a lot of the established landlords who have decades of experience. They're going to say, look, I've had enough,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois may ban ordinances or fines against homeless on public property
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois legislators are considering a law that would prohibit cities from imposing fines or criminal penalties against homeless residents occupying public property. would amend the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act to prevent local governments from creating ordinances or giving fines, or criminal penalties to unsheltered homeless occupying or 'engaging in life-sustaining activities' on public property. The language of the bill does provide exceptions to maintain access to public property or address risks to public health or safety. Last month, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness to public officials and local governments, after it learned 'several units of local government have enacted or are considering enacting ordinances that may restrict access to public spaces by creating penalties, fines and, in some instances, providing for the incarceration of persons experiencing homelessness.' 'In the last 15 months, at least 25 Illinois communities have passed ordinances . These approaches lead to increased isolation, additional barriers to housing and unnecessary cycles of incarceration,' said Chief Homelessness Officer Christine Haley. Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) told , 'You're going to see people doing what you see and hear about in different parts of California, where people are defecating in the streets. There's going to be homeless camps all over the place, and the police won't be able to do anything about it.' Cabello said the language of the bill, in relation to 'life-sustaining activities,' is too broad, adding, 'Bathing in a public area could necessarily be life-sustaining. Relieving yourself in public, life-sustaining.' He added that many homeless people have a mental illness and are unaware of their actions. In 2024, Illinois launched the 'Home Illinois Anti-Homelessness Initiative,' a $360 million initiative to reach 'functional zero' levels of homelessness (meaning that the community can house more than the number of homeless people in the area.) Rockford has already taken strides, becoming the first community to reach those levels among veterans and the chronically homeless in 2017. The Home Illinois program uses $118 million to support unhoused populations seeking shelter and services. An additional $40 million is used in the Emergency and Transitional Housing Program. The program also spends $37 million to build 460 shelter units, $30 million on court-based rental assistance, and $21 million in homelessness prevention services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois bill proposes mental health defense for attacks on police
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — An Illinois legislator has introduced a bill that allows an offender who attacks a police officer to claim a legal defense if they say they were suffering a mental health episode. House Bill 3458, introduced by Rep. Lisa Davis (D) would provide 'a defense to aggravated battery when the individual battered is a peace officer and the officer responded to an incident in which the officer interacted with a person whom a reasonable officer could believe was having a mental health episode and the person with whom the officer interacted has a documented mental illness and acted abruptly.' Under current Illinois law, a person can be charged with aggravated battery if they attack a police officer, fireman, security officer, correctional officer, or Department of Human Services employee. 'Let me be clear: Excusing bad and violent behavior under the guise of mental health is totally inappropriate,' said Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), a former police officer. 'This idea puts officers at greater risk, dismisses the seriousness of mental health, and makes law enforcement's job even tougher.' 'Time and time again, we see Democrats claim they support law enforcement, while their policies tell a different story,' said Cabello. 'Instead of giving police the tools they need to fight crime, they push laws that make their jobs harder and put criminals first.' The bill has been referred to the Rules Committee for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cabello opposes bill allowing mental health defense for aggravated battery of an officer
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois House of Representatives Assistant Minority Leader John Cabello is speaking out against a bill that would allow a person who attacks a police officer to claim mental health as a defense. The House hopes to amend the Criminal Code of 2012. The proposal would allow people to say they were having a mental health episode as a defense for aggravated battery of an officer. The defense would be used if an officer responded to an incident in which the officer interacted with a person whom an officer could believe was having a mental health episode and the person has a documented mental illness and acted abruptly. Cabello said the bill undermines officers and supports criminals. 'Time and time again, we see Democrats claim they support law enforcement, while their policies tell a different story,' said Rep. Cabello. 'Instead of giving police the tools they need to fight crime, they push laws that make their jobs harder and put criminals first.' Cabello explained he feels using mental health as a defense for violent behavior undermines mental health issues as a whole. 'Let me be clear: Excusing bad and violent behavior under the guise of mental health is totally inappropriate,' said Cabello. 'This idea puts officers at greater risk, dismisses the seriousness of mental health, and makes law enforcement's job even tougher' Representatives Kelly Cassidy and Marcus Evans Jr. were added as co-sponsors to the bill on March 4th. Representative Lisa Davis proposed the bill on February 7th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
