Bill to Tighten FOID Passes House

A bill requiring fingerprinting for Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification card has been approved by the Illinois House.

House Democrats Saturday narrowly passed a measure they say will help stop people who should not have guns from obtaining a state Firearm Owner’s Identification card. But Republicans say Democrats are overreaching and making a “gun grab.”

The legislation requires fingerprinting for FOID card applicants and renewals. It would also require a background check and waiting period through a gun dealer for all private sales, even between family members, closing the so-called “gun show loophole.”

House sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) says she doesn’t argue with the 2nd Amendment allowing people to own guns, but she says the government can step in in the interest of public safety.

“This is a public health crisis,” said Hirschauer, who admitted on the floor she does not hold a FOID card. “We do a lot of things as a society for the good of public safety. I believe that this is one.”

Republicans opposed the bill, claiming tighter regulations on FOID would be burdensome on legal gun owners and wouldn’t do anything to curb gun violence.

“I’m a believer that crime is not committed by someone carrying a FOID card,” said Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha). “I’m a believer that most crime committed is probably from an illegal gun that wasn’t purchased through any firearm FFL dealer. It wasn’t purchased through any process at a gun show. It was purchased off the street. FOID cards will not solve that. Fingerprinting for FOID cards will not solve that.”

The bill passed 60-50 Saturday afternoon and advances to the Senate, but Senators are also negotiating multiple pieces of gun-related legislation.