SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In the wake of the tragic workplace shooting that took place in Aurora, state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville is supporting a safety and reform measure supported by the Illinois State Police and law enforcement community to close loopholes in the Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card process to prevent individuals with a violent criminal record from obtaining firearms.

“We must be proactive in closing loopholes in gun licensing to prevent tragedies like Aurora from happening again,” said Edly-Allen. “I’m supporting this commonsense reform to ensure that FOID card applicants undergo a comprehensive background check and share information in real time with law enforcement to help protect our families.”

Edly-Allen backed Senate Bill 1966, known as Fix the FOID Act, that would require fingerprinting for all FOID applicants and renewals similar to that required of concealed carry applicants, enact universal background checks for all firearm transfers, streamline and strengthen the revocation process to ensure law enforcement removes firearms from individuals who have lost their privileges, as well as require FOID renewal every five years.

“As gun violence continues to plague our state and nation, we are proud advocates of the Fix the FOID Act that would prohibit people with violent criminal histories from buying guns,” said Kathleen Sances, president, and CEO of the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC).
“We stand by Edly-Allen and more than 170 organizations who have joined a coalition to put a stop to preventable tragedies, like the recent shooting in Aurora, Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to the February mass shooting in Aurora, Illinois that resulted in the tragic loss of five lives and injuries that responding police officers and civilians are still recovering from, state Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish, D-Chicago, is working to pass bipartisan comprehensive gun licensing reform supported by the law enforcement community.

“The weapon used in Aurora was legally purchased through existing loopholes that my bill aims to close,” said Kalish. “Even though the Illinois State Police were notified that the assailant purchased a gun, there was no plan of action in place for authorities to ensure that the illegally purchased weapon was turned into the authorities. This basic breakdown in procedure has resulted in several families being torn apart and we now owe it to the victims and their families to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens in Illinois again.”
Kalish is supporting the ‘Fix the FOID’Act, also known as Senate Bill 1966, which bolsters Illinois gun safety laws to prevent violent criminals from obtaining a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card. The changes include closing the gun show loophole which allows people to bypass background checks and requiring fingerprint submissions to get a FOID card. Kalish’s measure also streamlines the process of allowing law enforcement to seize the weapons of individuals whose FOID cards have been revoked.

Workplace homicides have grown rapidly in the last ten years, and almost 80% were committed with a gun, often more than one-at-a-time. The Aurora shooting is one of the deadliest mass shootings of 2019, but there have been over 100 other similar incidents this year.

“The safety of our families should be a priority for all legislators, no matter party affiliation,” said Kalish. “I worked with my colleagues across the aisle to ensure that a portion of new funds raised from FOID card applications are dedicated to school-based mental health centers. As a state we must understand that complex issues require complex solutions, with mental health education being one of them. Mental wellbeing will be a priority moving forward by providing the financial resources schools need to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health and serve our young people who might be struggling.”