The local Moms Demand Action chapter will head to Springfield later this month to push for tighter FOID card laws before the end of session.
Sarah Breeden is the co-legislative lead for the McLean County chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. She said the organization supports the Fix the FOID Act (HB 96 Amendment 1), which promises to tighten gun laws following February's warehouse shooting in Aurora. Illinois State Police admitted to wrongly issuing the Aurora shooter a FOID card despite a felony conviction for aggravated assault.
The current FOID law states any firearm owner found to be prohibited from possession will receive a letter from the Illinois State Police directing the owner to relinquish their guns.
Breeden said Moms Demand Action is joined by over 170 organizations in support of the measure.
“There are a lot of people who are not trying to reduce anybody’s Second Amendment rights. They are trying to advocate for gun safety," she said.
The proposed measure would require a point-of-sale background check, in-person application and fingerprinting with state police, removal of firearms after FOID card is revoked, and reduce the length of the license from 10 to five years.
“The next step is Advocacy Day in Springfield on May 22, and at that time we would like to meet with our legislators and go over these points.”
The Fix The FOID Act is currently stalled in the House. Legislators have until the end of May to send measures to the governor’s desk.
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