Illinois State Police prepare to issue first round of approved concealed carry licenses

[March 03, 2014]   CHICAGO — Illinois State Police have announced that 5,000 Concealed Carry License (CCL) applications have been approved and are ready to be printed and mailed. The department will begin mailing the licenses and will continue to issue licenses as they are approved. Concealed Carry Licenses will be printed and mailed on a daily basis.

"This collaborative process offers the multiple layers of scrutiny envisioned by the legislature, and we believe that the law enforcement objections provide for enhanced public safety," State Police Colonel Marc Maton said.

Illinois State Police representatives were joined today by Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg), Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton), Illinois Association Chiefs of Police Executive Director John Kennedy, and Concealed Carry License Review Board (CCLRB) Chair Robinzina Bryant.

Officials provided the first glimpse of the actual license, which is approximately three by two inches and is centered with an ISP security hologram.

Each Concealed Carry License application requires the applicant to possess a valid Firearms Owner’s Identification card (FOID), or to apply for a FOID in conjunction with the CCL, to begin the application process. Background checks are simultaneously conducted by State Police while local law enforcement agencies review the applications for objections. 

Once objections are compiled, the CCLRB has 30 days to review the information regarding any application that has not been statutorily denied by the ISP. If the ISP determines there is a statutory reason to deny or the CCLRB determines that the applicant poses a danger to him/herself or threat to public safety, State Police must notify the applicant in writing of the denial. All final administrative decisions are subject to judicial review under the provisions of the Administrative Review law. 

Since the process began, State Police have received more than 50,000 applications and objected to more than 800. To date, no objection has been appealed. 

"Our diverse investigative, legal, and mental health experience provides this important process and applicants with a fair path to obtaining a concealed carry license," CCLRB Chair Robinzina Bryant said. "The board will use every resource and necessary time extension to ensure that the reviews have been conducted fairly and thoroughly." 

Visit the State Police Concealed Carry website http://www.isp.state.il.us/ for the latest updates on the Illinois Concealed Carry program.

[Text received from ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MEDIA RELATIONS]