Chicago Mayor Wants School Safety Zones
Under a proposed "school safety zone" ordinance, anyone caught with a weapon near a Chicago school could face a $1,000 to $5,000 fine and mandatory 30 days in jail.
That's the punishment for first time offenders who are convicted of carrying weapons near school safety zones, which will include safe passage routes, school buildings, school buses and some parks in Chicago.
With each additional offense, the fine and jail time grows. A second offense would carry a fine anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 with three months in jail and a third offense would carry a fine of $10,000 to $20,000 with a mandatory six-month jail term.
"Although the state already has something in place, it gives the Chicago police officers something that's going to hit people's pockets," Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett said. Burnett is sponsoring the ordinance.
The NRA is opposing the plan, saying it will not achieve anything.
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