- Published: Friday, August 31, 2012 03:59 PM
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Measure will keep guns out of the hands of domestic violence offenders
SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-16th) successfully negotiated legislation, signed today, to tighten state oversight of the Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card program and keep guns out of the hands of people legally prohibited from owning them. Senate Bill 1034 addresses key findings from the much-publicized Attorney General’s FOID audit, which found many perpetrators of domestic violence, individuals with an active order of protection or “no contact” order against them, and mentally ill individuals illegally owning guns.
“Our firearms laws are designed to protect people from those who may be more likely to commit violent acts; it is thus extremely disconcerting to learn that restrictions on gun ownership often were not enforced,” Sen. Collins said. “Victims of domestic violence in particular should not live in fear that their abusers could have access to a firearm because of a loophole in the law.”
Sen. Collins’ measure clarifies that certain domestic violence perpetrators may not own guns whether they plead guilty to the offense or are tried and convicted. It also states that FOID cards must be confiscated immediately from subjects of order of protection or stalking “no contact” orders who are not allowed to possess guns, and it requires a court to immediately notify police when a person becomes ineligible for gun ownership by reason of mental illness.
In addition, the legislation contains protections for lawful firearm owners, such as giving new residents up to 60 days to obtain a FOID card, reducing penalties for gun owners who forget to renew their cards on time and creating a religious exemption to the photograph requirement for firearm owners in the Amish community.
“The intent of the state’s gun laws is to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not possess them, not to harass law-abiding gun owners,” Sen. Collins said. “The legislation signed today affirms that intent and makes our communities safer.”
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