This is across the river in IL, where you need the FOID card to possess any firearm (even at home) or to buy ammo.

https://www.news-gazette.com/n...43-de8b17c7822b.html

Gun owners frustrated with FOID application backlog

PETER HANCOCK
news@capitolnewsillinois.com
3 hrs ago

SPRINGFIELD — Despite a temporary rule that extends the expiration dates for Firearm Owners Identification cards and concealed carry permits, many Illinois gun owners are still finding it difficult to buy weapons and ammunition.

That was one of the issues that came up Wednesday during a meeting of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a legislative body that oversees the state’s regulatory processes.

“The problem that that a lot of my constituents are having is firearms dealers and businesses are not accepting the FOID cards that are expired, even though they know … that the state of Illinois has said, hey, they're still good beyond the expiration date,” state Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, said during the hearing.

Schimpf was speaking to officials from the Illinois State Police, which recently renewed an emergency rule first adopted in April that extends the expiration date of FOID cards and concealed carry permits by 12 months, as long as the permit holder submits a renewal application. On Sept. 3, the agency extended that rule to 18 months.

ISP, which issues firearm permits, had been struggling with a backlog of applications since long before the pandemic began. But the problem multiplied after the pandemic hit and again later amid the civil unrest that erupted following the May 25 murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

According to data that ISP provided in an email, 147,862 FOID card applications were received during the first four months of the disaster declaration, March through June. That was more than double the number received in the prior four-month period.

From July through September, ISP said it received 135,798 applications for new or renewed FOID cards.

There are currently more than 142,000 FOID card applications pending and more than 26,000 applications pending for concealed carry licenses.

Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said in an interview that he receives complaints from gun owners who are frustrated about the delays on a daily basis.

“One guy has been waiting for three years and no explanation of why he hasn't gotten it or anything. So, yeah, we're actually forwarding those all to our attorney,” he said.

Under state law, FOID cards are supposed to be issued or denied within 30 days of an application, but the backlog has caused most applicants to wait for several months. Pearson said there are currently 12 lawsuits pending in various courts arguing the delays amount to a violation of individuals’ constitutional right to bear arms.

According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Illinois is one of only three states, alongside Massachusetts and New York, that require a license to buy and possess a firearm. Ten states require a permit to purchase at least some types of firearms, but not all of them require a license to continue owning one.

Pearson confirmed that despite the emergency rule extending the expiration dates, many gun dealers still will not sell firearms to anyone who does not have a current, valid FOID card.

“I know that they're worried about liability,” he said. “And so, (the rule) might say that they're okay, but the law says you can't do it, and the executive order overrides the law. It is a big quagmire. Plus the fact that these people can't buy ammunition in Illinois. And so they have to go on online and buy it, and to get it online, you have to supply the provider of that ammunition, the seller of that ammunition, with a valid FOID card and they don't have a valid FOID card.”

Pearson said that has been especially frustrating for hunters because deer and waterfowl hunting seasons are coming soon.

“And deer slugs in some places are in short supply,” he said. “So, you know, you're supposed to have a valid FOID card while you're out hunting. But of course, the executive order overrides that, so they're not doing anything about it.”

ISP general counsel Yvette Loizon said during Wednesday’s hearing that the agency has heard directly from firearms dealers about the issue.

“It's an issue that we are cognizant of, and we are looking into ideas in different ways where we could help alleviate some of those problems,” she said.

An ISP spokesperson said in an email that the agency has been in the process of hiring more analysts to process applications since early this year.

“The hiring process is ongoing and includes a minimum six-month training program to ensure applications are accurately and efficiently processed,” the spokesperson said.

Two things about this article struck me immediately:

“The murder of George Floyd” and

“It's an issue that we are cognizant of, and we are looking into ideas in different ways where we could help alleviate some of those problems,” she said.”

Here’s an idea - dump the unconstitutional bs.

Geez

Another takeaway for me was a minimum of 6 months training to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Makes me wonder how much documentation is needed for the application.

I also totally understand the dealers not wanting to complete a sale on an expired card. Can't see any unexpected problems arise from a situation like this, nope, not a single one.

A few things-

The 6 months of training... That's for the Il State Police investigators that do the FOID cards.

Everything in the article was going good until the slanted "May 25 murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police" got tossed in. WTF....

The FOID card helps sooo much in the state! It's sooo hard to get ahold of a gun and use it for unlawful purposes, like shooting or murdering people. All hail the great crime stopper: the FOID card!

It's kinda funny, since "Da Rona" hit, and the ammo dried up, the only ones that seem to be in an abundance of bullets are the bad-guys!

Ran into a guy who lives in IL the other week. In June he decided he wanted to get in on gun ownership. He hasn’t heard a peep about his paperwork, won’t even give an update.

Yes, the obvious question is why did you wait until then, and why are you still in IL??

quote:

“The problem that that a lot of my constituents are having is firearms dealers and businesses are not accepting the FOID cards that are expired, even though they know … that the state of Illinois has said, hey, they're still good beyond the expiration date,” state Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, said during the hearing.

Probably because those dealers are smart enough to distrust the IL gov't. A year or so from now they'll go back and start prosecuting and revoking licenses for selling to people with expired FOID cards. They'd likely get that reversed. After 3 - 5 years and a million or so in attorney's fees.

And yes, I do see the entire FOID thing as about as constitutional as a poll tax.

I grew up in Illinois in a rural area that provided me with plenty of places to hunt and fish when I was young. This was long before I was aware of the detriments of liberalism. When I graduated from high school I moved to the state I was born in (Texas) I haven't been back. My dad (who lived in Missouri) passed away from covid in May and at the funeral my cousin who still lives in Illinois was trying to talk me into moving back since I'm a conservative gun loving American like most of my family there. I told him it would never happen, like California I don't think there's any hope for that state.