- Gun owners in Illinois could have their identities shielded from public disclosure under legislation that passed the House Friday.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan has contended lists of gun owners who have Firearm Owner Identification cards should be retrievable under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Richard Morthland (R-Cordova) would amount to an end-run around Madigan. Morthland’s bill passed the House 98-12 and now moves to the Senate.
“I appreciate the work of the attorney general,” Morthland said. “But there is a pressing need to keep this information private. It would create a situation where there’d be increased possibility for gun violence in the state of Illinois should this not pass.”
Most of the “no” votes were Chicago-area Democrats.
No surprise that Chicago democrats would be against anything that reduces citizens' reliance on the government, especially something that might adversely impact a significant portion of their voting bloc.
The easier (and better) solution would be to eliminate the FOID card entirely, seeing as how it's only purpose is to have a list of doors to knock on should Illinois ever ban guns entirely.
The easier (and better) solution would be to eliminate the FOID card entirely, seeing as how it's only purpose is to have a list of doors to knock on should Illinois ever ban guns entirely.