Will Burns Endorsed by IllinoisVictims.org
Candidate for 26th District Continues Gun Control Push
(Chicago—November 7, 2007) Illinoisvictims.org, a nonpartisan group that advocates gun control, recently announced their endorsement of Will Burns for state representative of the 26th legislative district.
The key endorsement for the Democratic candidate comes as voters grow increasingly concerned about the issue of gun violence. So far this year, approximately 70 Chicagoans under the age of twenty have fatally suffered as the result of gun violence.
“This issue means life or death for all of us,” Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, director of Illinoisvictims.org, said.
Bishop Jenkins added that the 26th District needs a strong voice to speak on behalf of the victims of gun violence in the state house.
“We are supporting Will because we know he’ll do better than state Rep. Elga Jeffries on the gun issue,” Bishop Jenkins said. She criticized Jeffries for voting against legislation requiring background checks for anyone purchasing a handgun from a private dealer, even as she was listed as a sponsor of the bill. The measure eventually failed in the state house by two votes.
Burns has pledged to push legislation requiring background checks as a member of the state legislature. In addition, Burns has called for a mandatory 30 day waiting period for gun purchases and a requirement that all handgun dealers register with the state of Illinois.
“As a victim of gun violence, I understand the need for sensible gun control legislation,” Burns said. “I am deeply honored that Illinoisvictims.org believes that I will be the most effective advocate for gun control in Springfield.”
In addition to Illinoisvictims.org, Burns has received the endorsement of former Attorney General Roland Burris, former Congressman and Federal Judge Abner Mikva, the Reverend Michael Pfleger, state Senator Kwame Raoul and Aldermen Toni Preckwinkle and Leslie Hairston.
Burns, who earned his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Chicago, is a former deputy chief of staff for Senate President Emil Jones Jr. Working for the Senate’s top leader, Burns shaped legislation reforming Illinois’ criminal justice system. Burns also developed key civil rights legislation as an aide to then state Sen. Barack Obama and was Deputy Campaign Manager when Obama ran for Congress in 2000. He currently is Vice President for Conlon Public Strategies, and resides in Hyde Park with his wife Robin Black, and their infant daughter Athena.