Saturday, May 21, 2011
 
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Brady's bill prohibits FOID card disclosures

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[May 21, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- State and local governments would not be allowed to publicly release the names or personal information of FOID card holders or applicants, under legislation co-sponsored by state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

Passed by the Senate on Friday, House Bill 3500 adds an exemption to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act,  protecting the names and information of firearm owner's identification card holders or applicants.

On Feb. 28, the attorney general's office said it would allow the names of FOID card holders to be made public. The ruling came in response to an Associated Press Freedom of Information Act request for information about FOID card holders.

The Illinois State Police refused to release that information, citing public safety and privacy concerns.

The attorney general's opinion is currently being challenged in court.

"We felt the attorney general's opinion was wrong, and that it was important to put in statute a measure to restrict public disclosure of the names and information of people who currently possess or who have applied for a FOID card," Brady said.

The 44th District senator said allowing public access to FOID card information could potentially be used by criminals to burglarize homes in search of firearms, or to target homes without firearms. It could possibly lead to more "straw purchases" of guns or total noncompliance with firearm registration requirements. Concerns have also been expressed that the information would be used by commercial solicitors.

Passed by the Senate on May 20 and by the House of Representatives on April 8, House Bill 3500 now moves to the governor's desk for further consideration. If signed by the governor, the bill will become law immediately.

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Bill Brady by Illinois Senate Republican staff]

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