On January 1st, a new law will adjust the Illinois Criminal Code to safeguard churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship, according to an article by The Pantagraph. More specifically, this new law amends the statutes governing murder, aggravated battery and assault, and unlawful use of weapons. Introduced as House Bill 38, this measure passed through both houses of the Illinois legislature in less than a year. The governor signed this bill into law on August 9th as Public Act 101-0223, with an effective date of January 1, 2020. Once this law becomes effective, several statutes within the Illinois Criminal Code will change, including those relating to first-degree murder, aggravated battery, unlawful use of weapons, and aggravated assault. First-Degree Murder Moving forward, first-degree murder under 720 ILCS 5/9-1 will include additional provisions. Specifically, it will qualify as first-degree murder if the victim was: A member of a congregation; Engaged in prayer or other religious activities; and At a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship. The penalty for first-degree murder will remain the same under 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-20. Upon conviction for this crime, the offender usually faces a prison sentence between 20 and 60 years. Though in certain
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