Those wanting to purchase firearms would no longer need to possess a FOID card under legislation filed recently. Senate Bill 2535 would repeal the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Act, which supporters of the bill say is outdated and redundant.
“Given the ongoing backlog for the processing of FOID applications and renewal requests, I believe lawmakers should be more focused on the underlying issues of criminal gun violence, not grasping at an ineffective, unnecessary barrier which only makes it harder for law-abiding gun owners to exercise their right to bear arms,” said Chief Co-sponsor of the legislation State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg).
The FOID Act was created in 1968 as a way to identify people who were eligible to own firearms as part of a public-safety initiative in Illinois to meet the requirements of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. However, with updated technology allowing for the use of instant background checks, the bill’s sponsors say the FOID card serves no real purpose.
While Senate Bill 2535 would eliminate the need for a person to own a FOID card, it would not change any of the other requirements for purchasing a firearm. Those who buy a firearm would still need to undergo strict federal background checks at the time of purchase.