One state lawmaker wants to get rid of Illinois’ Firearm Owners’ Identification card

Illinois is one of only four states with similar laws on the books. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – One state lawmaker wants to get rid of Illinois’ Firearm Owners’ Identification card.

State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, filed a bill to eliminate the law that
requires residents to obtain a FOID card in order to legally possess or purchase guns or
ammunition.

“I’ve been filing this bill forever,” Cabello said. “I don’t believe that FOID keeps us safer.
I think that it’s just another roadblock for law-abiding citizens [to obtain a gun].”

Illinois is one of only four states with similar laws on the books. Hawaii, New Jersey, and
Massachusetts are the other three.

“We have laws on the books against murder, but people still commit murder,” Cabello
said. “The criminals are never going to follow the law anyways. I mean, they’re
criminals.”

Cabello says there’s also the issue of the backlog at the Illinois State Police, where
around 62,000 people are waiting for either their initial FOID card or for a renewal.

“The state police are doing their absolute best, but they were never given the funding to
actually fund the office the way it should be,” Cabello said. “We hear stories from
citizens that are doing everything right by applying early for the renewal. But it still takes
sometimes three to six months to get their new FOID card.”

Cabello also believes there are ulterior motives for keeping the law on the books.
“If they would just come out and tell the truth,” Cabello said. “‘We don’t really want
anyone to own guns, so we’re going to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to
have one. Plus, we’re going to use it as a revenue generator.’ Oh, OK. Well, at least
you’re telling the truth now.”

Illinois’s FOID card requirement has been in effect since 1968.

Cabello has proposed similar legislation in previous years, but the measure never has
received a vote in the full House.

Illinois Radio Network can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…