|
There are several pending lawsuits in state and federal courts
challenging a variety of Illinois' gun laws, including the
Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act. During the first
gubernatorial debate last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker defended the
FOID card system and an option to submit fingerprints.
“I don’t think it's too much of an inconvenience for a lawful
gun owner or somebody who is purchasing a gun to go through a
universal background check,” Pritzker said. “That is what the
FOID card is all about.”
Pritzker, who wants a ban on all assault weapons, traveled to
Washington D.C. in July to stand alongside President Joe Biden,
gun control advocates and victims of gun violence to herald
enacted federal gun legislation. The law included a variety of
measures like increasing background checks for people under 21
looking to buy guns.
His opponent, Republican candidate state Sen. Darren Bailey,
R-Xenia, is in favor of eliminating the FOID Card Act.
“The FOID card does nothing,” Bailey said. “You already have a
federal background firearm check. Every state around us doesn't
have a FOID, but we do and the fees keep going up.”
Following a hearing on the July 4 mass shooting in her
community, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said she
understands there needs to be a focus on mental health, but she
urged Congress to pass a federal ban on certain types of weapons
as Highland Park has on the books.
“We are surrounded by states that have far more lenient gun laws
and until those states are brought into line with the rest of
us, we’re going to have this scourge,” Rotering said.
The Highland Park shooting suspect obtained a FOID card with his
father as a sponsor despite local police submitting a clear and
present danger report about him to Illinois State Police in
2019.
A 2020 study found that less than half the guns recovered in
Illinois that were used in crimes were originally purchased in
the state.
Illinois has the 8th strictest gun laws in the country,
according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest. |
|
