CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- State Rep. La Shawn Ford plans to introduce legislation that would increase criminal penalties for people who kill children.
"Whenever a police officer is killed, it is a capital offense," said Ford. "We want that to be the case for when children are killed in the State of Illinois."
The bill will be named after 4-year-old Michael Moultry, who was shot and killed while sitting in a Woodlawn apartment in September.
While his killer has not been caught, Moultry's parents want others who are convicted of murdering children to face life in prison.
"Parents are hoping that the passage of this [bill] and the ongoing advocacy of this type of legislation will one; deter crime and two; prosecute people to the fullest extent if they commit crimes against children," said Ford. "We have to draw the line and see that our babies are protected, our schools, our parks, our daycare centers, our homes."
Ford referred to several recent shootings involving children, including 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams who was killed in April while sitting in a car at a McDonald's drive-through on Chicago's West Side.
He also mentioned what he calls a "shameful" incident in west suburban Villa Park last week.
"Someone had the audacity to shoot inside of an amusement park where they knew children were, so to have the gall to go into an amusement park and open fire with babies around is unacceptable."
Ford plans to bring the bill before the Illinois General Assembly early next year and told WBBM the goal is to eventually push for similar legislation at the federal level.
