CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Local leaders, public health professionals, and advocates will gather Thursday, November 13, for Reimagining Public Safety: Urbana/Champaign, a community town hall designed to highlight new approaches to reducing gun violence and improving accountability in the firearm industry.
The event, hosted by the RIFL Coalition, will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Champaign. It centers on the proposed Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act, a measure that would require firearm manufacturers to obtain a state license and contribute to a no-fault injury restitution fund — helping offset the economic and medical costs of gun injuries.
“Every year, taxpayers and hospitals absorb billions in costs from gun injuries while manufacturers pay nothing,” said Dr. Anthony Douglas, trauma surgeon and organizer of the RIFL Act initiative. “The RIFL Act is a simple idea: the industry that profits should help cover the cost of its products’ impact.”
Modeled after the workers’ compensation system, the proposal redefines gun violence as both a public-health and economic issue — aiming to create a fairer, data-driven framework for addressing its consequences.
The panel will feature several prominent community figures, including State Rep. Carol Ammons, Champaign Mayor Deborah Feinen, Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams, Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone, Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman, and County Coroner Laurie Brauer. They’ll be joined by advocates such as Sara Knizhnik, co-founder of SAFE Illinois; Dr. Rachel Garthe of the University of Illinois; Tracy Dace, founder of DREAAM; and Marlon Mitchell, founder of First Followers.
The event is free and open to the public. RSVP details are available on Eventbrite.
