Morrison Announces Proposals to Reform FOID System
DEERFIELD, IL – State Senate Candidate Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) outlined her policy to reform the state’s Firearm Owner’s Identification system (FOID). Morrison is using the Auditor General’s recent audit of the FOID system as the basis for her reforms.
“The safeguards we currently have in place are not preventing dangerous people from accessing guns,” Morrison said. “I respect the rights of hunters and sportsmen but there comes a point where we need to institute common sense reforms that will keep our communities safe. Our state’s FOID system is supposed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals but the Auditor General’s analysis of the program has made it clear that the FOID system is not working and needs substantial reforms.”
In April 2012, Auditor General William Holland released his office’s analysis of the FOID system. The audit revealed some alarming statistics. The audit revealed that only 3% of the circuit courts properly report mental health disorders to the Illinois State Police (ISP), that only 30% of revoked FOID cards are properly returned, and that the state police are overwhelmed with the number of FOID card requests. Current state law requires the state police to process FOID requests in less than 30 days. The crushing number of requests has resulted in the state police spending almost $500,000 per year in overtime processing requests in the allotted time. The audit concluded that ISP cannot do a proper job vetting FOID requests and meeting the 30 day requirement with current staffing ratios.
Morrison proposed reforms to the FOID system include:
- Changing state law to require courts to report mental health disorders within 30 days of adjudication.
- Changing state law to require a FOID Card be returned to ISP within 14 days of receiving notice that the card has been revoked
- Extend the FOID Card wait period to 45 days.
“Instituting these changes to the FOID Card system promotes more responsible gun ownership and keeps guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” Morrison said. “This is a broken process that is costing tax payers each year. We need to make these changes so that the system no longer wastes tax payer money. We need to implement reforms that will prevent dangerous people from accessing dangerous weapons.”
Steve S.
12:29 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
This will not change anything and will be a waste of time and money. First of all, if the gun is obtained illegally than this does nothing. How do you determine which mental health disorders are too dangerous to carry a legal weapon? They have the right to defend themselves as well. I think that you are basically saying that all mental health sufferers are or will be a criminal. This is not true. As far as the 45 day wait, I don't see how if a criminal wants to commit a crime, that they would be deterred by having to wait to buy a LEGAL firearm to commit an illegal act. If they want to commit the crime, they are going to find a weapon and do it. I don't see how this would deter the real criminals. The two boys from deerfield did not have a FOID card. I agree that there needs to be rules on gun ownership, but there is no way that this proposal will change criminal behavior.
Guido McGinty
3:36 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
"if the gun is obtained illegally than this does nothing."
This does not register in the mind of the zealot. Zealots legislate their own reality.
RationalTht
1:55 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
It is funny how every other state can get along without a "FOID" type process, but it is somehow required and necessary here in IL. If the police are overworked and unable to process a request within a MONTH, maybe they should just get rid of the process. Is this representative truly this naive to believe that the criminals that commit the large majority of crimes here in IL are law-abiding FOID card holders? Morrison is just trying to implement more "control" to show that she is doing something, even though that "something" has been proven to be costly and ineffective.
Guido McGinty
3:38 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
"I respect the rights of hunters and sportsmen but..."
"I respect free speech rights but..."
"I respect rights against unreasonable search and seizure but..."
Do these critters understand that the word "but" negates everything they just said about rights?
Roger Billings
4:38 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
The only acceptable "reform" of the FOID system is to abolish it. Morrison's interest in tinkering with it shows she is too liberal to represent me and most of the District. She should stick with soaking the taxpayers on a smaller scale by drawing a ridiculous salary for the completely unnecessary do-nothing job of Township Supervisor. Anyone who votes for her should be required to write a 500-word essay on ending government waste by throwing people like her out of a job.
RonnieTheLimoDriver
7:30 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
While State Law requires the ISP to issue (or deny) the FOID within 30 days, it has been some time since the police were able to comply with this requirement. While they are doing better, very few people get their FOIDs within 30 days. In fact, they dont even want you to call and check status until at least 30 days have passed. There is already a waiting period for the FOID, then once you have the FOID, there is another waiting period to purchase a firearm. Julie is chasing her tail on this one. Instead of spending time on this, how about she comes up with some real proposals to return our state to solvency.
Guido McGinty
8:22 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
"While State Law requires the ISP to issue (or deny) the FOID within 30 days, it has been some time since the police were able to comply with this requirement."
Johnny Law in unconcerned with the law. Johnny has a vested interest in an unarmed populace, hardly a new revelation.
"how about she comes up with some real proposals to return our state to solvency."
Neither the red nor the blue factions of the War Party are capable of such proposals. Any beliefs to the contrary peg you as an ostrich with your head in the sand.
Vicky Kujawa
9:27 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
So how are the FOID cards helping with the constant weekend shootings on the West side of Chicago?
Joe TargetPractice
1:25 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
I don't know where she gets her stats from, but in the real world, the last time I renewed my FOID card, I received it in less than 2 weeks after dropping my application in the mail. When I purchased some ammo at a Walmart, the clerk reading the register says that I need to show some kind of id card - I accidentally pulled out my drivers license instead of my FOID card and he accepted the drivers license. (I was also asked for a FOID card at the same Walmart for buying pellets once - not sure criminals use a pellet gun for crimes )