Munoz: We must properly vet FOID card applicants

SPRINGFIELD- Assistant Majority Leader Antonio “Tony” Munoz (D-Chicago) advanced legislation Wednesday giving the Illinois State Police tools to better evaluate Firearm Owners Identification Card applications.

“We want to make sure we’re not handing out FOID cards to individuals who are a potential threat to public safety,” Munoz said. “And we want to make sure the Illinois State Police have the proper information to evaluate these applications.”

Currently, individuals who have been a patient of a mental health facility within the past five years are ineligible to receive a FOID card. House Bill 4855 expands the definition of patient to include those who are placed in a mental health facility against their will, but ultimately not court ordered.

The legislation also:
•    Changes the Illinois State Police’s requirement to approve or deny FOID card renewals within a 30-day period to a 60-day period.
•    Allows for the suspension of an individual's FOID card if the card is subject to revocation for a reason that is not grounds for permanent revocation

The proposal now moves to the full Senate for consideration.