"This concept has been supported by [the] Brady [Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence] and the NRA," he said. "There are not a lot of issues in the area of gun violence that can bring those two sides together."

UPDATE: Later Wednesday, Randall Samborn, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said federal prosecutors have not let up on their efforts against "gangs, guns and drugs."

Federal and state authorities confer on cases, and often route them to the venue in which a potential sentence is greater, he said. But in 2006, Illinois enacted an armed habitual criminal law that raised state penalties. So some cases that might previously have been prosecuted in federal court go instead to state court because the maximum penalties there now are higher, he said.

"Many of those defendants are facing greater sentences under that statute," he said.

Also, looking strictly at the number of firearms cases underestimates the federal anti-violence approach, he said.

"There are much broader comprehensive anti-violence efforts that we engage in constantly," he said.

Besides prosecutions, the federal government also operates prevention and re-entry programs to provide job training and other resources to redirect offenders away from gun violence, Samborn said.

"It has a huge impact on reducing recidivism," he said.

On Tuesday, the Cook County Board enacted a new ordinance that takes effect in August to require firearm owners in suburban Cook County to report the make, model and serial number of lost, stolen, sold, transferred or destroyed firearms to the sheriff within 48 hours.

Read the Sun-Times story about the "lost gun" ordinance here.

Read a Feb. 4 Sun-Times story about a new Chicago drug-fighting headquarters designed to end agency rivalries here.

Read the Project Safe Neighborhoods Press Release.pdf

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