A new study says that two-thirds of the over 100,000 people in Illinois who are not allowed to have guns do so anyway. This could be because they are mentally ill or because they are in trouble with the law.
Sheriff Tom Dart has decided to deal with what he calls “A Firearm Regulation Crisis.” To carry out his plan, he is now asking state politicians for ten million dollars. The main goal would be to make sure that no one could act violently like the gunman who killed people at Henry Pratt Co. who wasn’t allowed to have a gun.
Dart has said that if there weren’t rules, it would be impossible for police to keep track of the people whose FOID cards are being taken away because they don’t follow the rules.
“I wish I was making this up,” Dart says. I wish someone would have taken a look at my case and told me I was going too far. He went on, “No. You’re being dramatic.” Figure it out. At this rate, 100,000 people will have their FOID cards taken away in two years, and we won’t be able to get in touch with them to make sure they’ve properly disposed of their guns.
In Illinois, more than two million people have a FOID card. Folks who have been convicted of a crime, have mental health problems, or are seen as a “clear and present danger” are given these cards and told they have to turn in their weapons. However, a report said that over 80,000 people still haven’t done so.
