Illinois House bill would force Chicago grocers, gas stations to hire armed guards

[mystery-ak]

Illinois House bill would force Chicago grocers, gas stations to hire armed guards
Dylan Sharkey
Criminal Justice
February 3, 2023

Illinois House bill would force Chicago grocers, gas stations to hire armed guards

A state lawmaker wants to force select Chicago businesses to hire full-time, armed security guards.

Illinois state lawmakers are pondering a bill that would force Chicago grocery stores, gas stations, banks and pawn shops to hire their own armed security guards to cover all hours they are open to the public.

State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, introduced the “Armed Security Protection Act.” It only applies to municipalities with more than 2 million residents, which in Illinois would exclusively mean Chicago.

What the bill doesn’t mention is the higher costs for businesses, which get passed on to customers. Grocery stores are defined as “a business engaged in the sale of food, beverages, and other goods usually used in a home,” which appears to include the corner bodega.

Inflation has put financial pressure on grocery stores and shoppers in Illinois. The consumer price index for food has grown more than any major category, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The bill also covers gas stations, adding costs when Chicago motorists already pay the nation’s second-highest gas taxes. The average gallon of gas in Chicago costs $4.08 as of Feb. 2, more than 25 cents higher than a month ago.

more
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-house-bill-would-force-chicago-grocers-gas-stations-to-hire-armed-guards/

[Kamaji]

[GtHawk]

If the state requires it will the business be able to right off the expense? More importantly will the business owners be indemnified against lawsuits when, not if, the security guard shoots/kills some lowlife robbing their business? Seems like something an idiot would come up with.

[roamer_1]

This is a legal nightmare.

These private guards are NOT sworn. So are not technically able to intercede except under the premise of self defense and the defense of others/property.

The legal blowback from this is going to  be epic.