National leaders fighting for gun violence prevention joined advocates in Chicago to push for a first-of-its-kind law, making gun manufacturers pay for violence incurred by their weapons. 

Illinois lawmakers, trauma doctors, faith leaders, and law enforcement met at St. Sabina Church in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Wednesday morning to push for the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act.

It's not just emergency room visits. It's months, sometimes years of rehab, lost wages, and families stretching limited resources.

"I don't just work in violence prevention, I survived gun violence," said Jason Little.

Little, like so many in the city, is a victim of gun violence. He was shot in 2004 and said his injuries are lifelong.

"To go through the process of being in a wheelchair, being on a walker, having two canes, having one cane, and now walking with a sensor, I walk with AFO braces on both of my legs. I'm still paralyzed from the knee down in both of my legs. So it's still a process," he said.

That's why he and others are backing the RIFL Act, which is the responsibility of the Firearms Legislation Act.

UChicago Medicine Surgeon Dr. Anthony Douglas has been pushing for this act since January of last year.

"I took it personally every time I called a time of death on a young man, young woman," he said.

The RIFL Act was introduced in the Illinois House last February. While it didn't get called for a vote last session, the RIFL Act gained support over the past year.  

The legislation would require firearm manufacturers to be licensed in Illinois. Money collected from licensing fees would go into a victim fund for related expenses. 

Pam Bosley lost her son due to gun violence and said the bill would help organizations like hers, which is called Purpose Over Pain.

"It's heartbreaking to know that you cannot bury a child because of funding. So, this RIFL Act is going to help with counseling, support parents, and all the things that we do to try and support them. It's going to help us in all types of ways," she said.

Funds would then be available for people hurt by guns and their families, covering medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs, and more.

Advocates estimate firearm injuries cost Illinois taxpayers and survivors almost $20 billion a year in law enforcement response and recovery expenses.  

Opponents, including the National Rifle Association, call the RIFL Act unconstitutional. They say it is not fair to force the industry to "pre-confess" to crimes.

RIFL Act creators hope their bill passes in Illinois and becomes a model for the rest of the U.S. 

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart told CBS News Chicago he supports the RIFL Act because it is in support of people. He released the following statement:  

"By creating a support fund for victims, this bill prioritizes real people over the profits of gun manufacturers. We can stop and interrupt cycles of violence when we support people, invest in communities, and make sure that gun manufacturers pay their fair share."  

Leaders were joined by David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland, Florida mass shooting in 2018, as well as Dr. Anthony Douglas, who specializes in trauma. 

Douglas told CBS News Chicago the RIFL Act works to "align financial interest with injury prevention." 

Father Michael Pfleger joined the media conference on Wednesday saying, "I pray the Illinois legislatures on both sides of the aisle strongly and boldly support this important and long overdue legislation."