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Problems Found With Illinois FOID Program

The Illinois Firearm Owners Identification program has a heap of problems.

The findings are in a report released by the Illinois Auditor General, who said some of those problems put public safety at risk.

The report said Illinois State Police sometimes don't know if the applicant has a disqualifying mental health condition.

In addition, the state is 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 of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence said 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," said Daley.

The ISP said the number of requests for FOID cards has steadily increased over the past few years, but its resources are limited.

The agency said it largely agrees with the audit's findings and has started addressing concerns.

Thanks to Illinois Public Radio
 

Rich is TSPR's News Director.