In her last hurrah as Cook County State's Attorney, a tough new firearms trafficking bill drafted by Anita Alvarez unanimously passed both houses of the Illinois Legislature and now awaits the governor's signature.

IL House Bill 6303 creates an additional tool for law enforcement by cracking down straw purchasers without a valid FOID card who obtain firearms or ammunition out of state and bring them into Illinois to sell on the illegal black market.

The measure introduces a new criminal charge for the offense of firearms trafficking by making a first-time offense a Class 1 felony, and a Class X felony if a defendant has a prior conviction for firearms trafficking, gunrunning or any other felony offense for delivery of a firearm.

"We know that illegally trafficked guns contribute directly to the excessive rate of gun crime here in Chicago and we must continue to work to identify and implement new strategies that target these offenders," Alvarez said in a news release.

"With shootings and gun violence at epidemic levels here in Chicago, this measure could not come at a more important time. I thank all of the bill sponsors and urge the Governor to sign this important new legislation," she said.

A recent University of Chicago Crime Lab study revealed that approximately 60 percent of the firearms recovered from Chicago crime scenes in 2010 were originally purchased outside of Illinois.

According to the study, firearms coming across the the Illinois border were quickly used in a crime less than one year from the time of purchase.

The bill specifically targets gun traffickers who already cannot legally possess a firearm. It does not apply a penalty to law abiding gun owners.

State Representative and House Leader Jim Durkin was the chief sponsor of the measure in the House and Senate Leader Christine Radogno was the chief sponsor of the measure in the Senate.