By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – As lawmakers prepare to come back to the Illinois State Capitol this week, some Republicans want to address delays in renewing Firearm Owners’ Identification cards.
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, said there had been a lot of conversation at the statehouse about the Firearm Owners’ Identification card process.
“The bureaucratic process, the fees, everything and I think there’s a lot of us that would like to see significant reform to that system,” Plummer said.
A measure the Senate could still take up from last year, Senate Bill 1966, would increase the FOID fees and require applicants to provide fingerprints moving forward. Supporters have said there need to be more checks in place to keep guns away from criminals.
Senate Bill 1966 would “ensure there is a background check for every gun sale in our state, and to strengthen current law so that people with violent histories are not able to purchase guns,” according to an advocacy email from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.
The measure passed the House last year, but wasn’t brought up for a concurrence vote in the Senate, something that could happen this year.
A measure requiring federally-licensed gun stores to also get a state license enacted last year that was to take effect earlier this month has yet to be approved by the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules. A hearing on rules for the Firearms Dealer License Certification Act is scheduled for Feb. 18.
Because of a lack of clear rules when gun stores applied for state certification, many closed, a move gun-rights groups said hurts more rural areas of the state.
Plummer said he is opposed to more regulations for lawful gun owners.
“There are gun problems, there’s crime, there are issues out there that need to be addressed, but going after a foundational freedom of the American people is not the way to solve those problems,” Plummer said.
Illinois State Police officials said they are working through a backlog of FOID renewal requests. Last month, the agency reported a backlog of more than 60,000 applications.
“The FOID card this year is a huge issue with the renewals,” state Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, said. “Having people nervous about having their Second Amendment right taken away because we’re behind on getting their new FOID card – that’s a big issue.”
Anderson said he doesn’t blame state police.
“We’re in one of those ten-year cycles where everybody’s FOID card is coming up for renewal at the same time,” he said.
During the legislative break, the Illinois State Rifle Association revealed millions of dollars was swept from FOID card fees over several years to be used for unr government spending. A memo from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability sent to state Rep. Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego, showed more than $13 million was swept from the State Police Firearm Services Fund in fiscal years 2015 through 2019. With another fund having been raided of $15 million, lawmakers took $28.5 million in fees paid for by the state’s more than 2 million FOID cardholders.
Anderson said the sweeps have to end.
“And we see that happen in a lot of places, which is what led us to the Lockbox Amendment for the Road Fund,” he said. “Maybe that’s something we’re going to have to look at in the future to make sure that we can’t sweep those funds.”
“I would just like to see the FOID card go away in total,” he added.
Anderson has for years filed a bill to repeal the state’s FOID card requirement. Illinois requires residents to obtain a FOID card to buy or possess a firearm or ammunition. A similar bill was filed in the House. Such efforts don’t have much support in the Democrat-controlled legislature.
The Illinois Supreme Court has at least two cases challenging the FOID card under review.
Lawmakers return to the capitol on Tuesday.
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