[article originally published in DGTDO Newsletter – October 2019 Edition]
FIX THE FOID!
By Joanna Williams
What is a FOID? TheFirearm Owners Identification card, required to buy a gun in Illinois.
Why does the FOID system need to be fixed? The tragic shooting in February in Aurora revealed dangerous gaps in the FOID law that allowed the shooter to easily purchase the gun used in the shooting, although his previous felony conviction should have prevented the purchase.
What is in the “FIX” legislation? 4 main provisions:
1. Require point-of-sale background check for all gun sales, including those by an unlicensed seller (gun show loophole).
2. Require FOID applicants to submit fingerprints as part of the application.
3. Require action by the Illinois State Police to remove guns once a FOID card is revoked.
4. Reduce FOID card validity from 10 years to 5.
What is the current status of the legislation? HB 96 passed the Illinois House in May, but the Senate adjourned for the summer without taking up the Senate version of the bill: SB 1966. The bill will now be considered in the Senate either in the current veto session (Oct 28-30/ Nov 12-14), or in the regular session in January 2020.
What can you do? Take action now! Together we can FIX the FOID for a safer Illinois. Call your state Senator and ask him/her to support SB 1966. Remind your Senator that roughly three quarters of DuPage county residents support the FIX!
For more Gun Violence Prevention information and actions you can take, check out:
Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee