SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— The Illinois State Police revoked more than 4,200 Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards or denied applications for one during the first none months of 2023.
Since the deadly Highland Park Shooting in 2022, Illinois has strengthened its firearm safety laws, allowing police to consider more evidence when determining to issue or revoke a FOID card.
Earlier this year, the Illinois State Police (ISP) launched a portal so law enforcement and school leaders can report “Clear and Present Danger” concerns when a person poses a significant threat to themselves or others.
Between Jan. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2023 ISP received a total of 10,144 Clear and Present Danger reports. Those reports lead to:
- 4,212 FOID revocations or application denials
- 4,912 individuals did not have a FOID card or application pending
The accused Highland Park shooter was able to buy weapons used in the attack despite police being called to his house twice in 2019 – once after he tried to commit suicide and again when he allegedly threatened to “kill everyone” in his family. On either occasion, police could have immediately exercised part of the law that allowed them to seek a restraining order to prevent Crimo from buying guns for anywhere from 14 days to six months.
Highland Park police did not seek such an order, and they were not required to do so. And just four months after the reported threat that prompted officers to seize 16 knives, a sword and a dagger from Crimo's home, Illinois State Police approved him for a firearms permit. The agency explained the decision in part by saying that it didn’t consider him a “clear and present danger” because he didn’t consider himself such a danger.
Now with the stronger law in place, ISP shared some of its Clear and Present Danger reports showing how their quick actions “intercepted the threat and helped prevent gun violence before it happened.”
Several incidents involved students, including one juvenile who had drawings of himself surrounded by weapons and labeling himself as a killer. His drawings also included other students and was labeled as his “kill book.” A report was filled out and authorities discovered the student did not have a FOID card. Law enforcement worked to remove guns from the student’s home and the information will be taken into consideration if he applies for a FOID card in the future.
Another incident involved a mother reporting to police that her son was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts and had made threatening statements. The mother told police her son had recently purchased a gun. ISP was able to revoked the son’s FOID card and had even confirmed he had just picked up the newly purchased firearm and ammunition. ISP immediately alerted the local police department who located the son on a traffic stop and recovered the guns before he could hurt anyone.
You can read the entire report here.
