Mayor Richard M. Daley wants to prohibit anyone who has been convicted of any violent crime, domestic violence or has two or more drunk-driving offenses from owning a handgun.
The new proposal announced today would replace the city’s handgun ban, which was effectively ended by a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday.
“When the wrong people have access to guns … needless violence is likely to happen,” Daley said at a Thursday news conference at the Hamilton Park Field House, on West 72nd Street.
The ordinance also would also limit eligible adults to one handgun purchase per month*. Other provisions of the measure would require gun owners to register with police and undergo safety training.
First-time violators would face fines of as much as $5,000 and a jail term of between 20 days and three months. Repeat offenses could bring a fine of as much as $10,000 and no more than six months in jail.
A City Council committee will hold a public hearing on the ordinance today and the full council is expected to vote on it at a special meeting Friday.
*The original version of this post incorrectly said that the ordinance would limit eligible adults to a single handgun.