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Auditor Finds FOID Troubles

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Illinois State Police
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ISP

The state's Firearm Owners Identification program has a heap of problems, according to an audit released Thursday.

The Auditor General says some of those problems put public safety at risk. The report says too often state police don't know when they grant FOID cards if the applicant has a disqualifying mental health condition. The state is also supposed to retrieve the gun licenses once they're expired.

But the audit found 70% of revoked registration cards never get back to the police. Colleen Daley is with the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. She says Illinois' gun-owners' registration program is important, but it's underfunded.

"We believe the FOID card system is a check and balance, we need to know who's going out there and buying guns, making sure that they are federally allowed to have those guns, it's a check that we need."
 

The Illinois State Police says the number of requests for FOID cards has steadily increased over the past few years, but its resources are limited. The department says it largely agrees with the audit's findings and has started addressing concerns.

Jennifer Fuller joined Capitol News Illinois in July 2023 as the organization’s broadcast director. She will oversee the launch and operations of CNI’s new broadcast division.

Contact Jennifer Fuller at jfuller@capitolnewsillinois.com
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