SPRINGFIELD - Gun show dealers will soon be required to conduct background checks on customers prior to selling a firearm.

Senate Bill 1333, which won House approval Monday, requires private citizens selling or trading weapons at gun shows to undergo an Illinois State Police background check. Currently, only federally licensed dealers are required to submit buyer names to the State Police.

Proponents said that conducting background checks at gun shows will help identify gun runners.

"This is a common sense gun control measure that should be supported by everyone in this room," state Rep. Harry Osterman, D-Chicago, sponsor of the bill.

Critics argue the legislation will hurt people who obey the law.

"I just feel that the rights of law-abiding gun owners need to be protected," said state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion. "I have a position that law-abiding citizens do not commit crimes."

Lawmakers also claim the bill gives government too much power.

"We have enough laws," said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. "I think we need to get to the point that if people commit crimes with a weapon, they enhance their penalties. Some of our Chicago colleagues think the problem is the guns, not vice versa."

SB 1333 passed the Senate last week and will be sent to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is expected to sign the bill into law. The governor said he will veto similar legislation which included destroying Illinois State Police gun sale records after 90 days.

Flider, Mitchell and State Reps. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, David Reis, R-Ste. Marie and Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, all voted against the bill.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, also voted against the legislation.

A measure prohibiting local governments from restricting the transportation of firearms and ammunition also passed the House Monday. The initiative, Senate Bill 2104, protects gun owners who unknowingly travel through a town that bans firearms. Guns must be unloaded and inaccessible during travel.

SB 2104 passed the House 79-36 and the Senate 34-25. All local lawmakers supported this bill. The measure will now go to the governor.

Jennifer Miller can be reached at jennifer.miller@;lee.net or 789-0865.