Rock Island Today

Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) opposes House Bill 562, saying it won't make Illinois safer.

She queried assistant majority leader of the House Democratic Caucus Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), who sponsored the bill.

"Why do you think there's an increase of FOID applications in Illinois?" McCombie asked Hoffman. "Is it possibly because we pass policy that makes people feel their second amendment rights are threatened?"

Hoffman believes it’s not the case which McCombie disagreed. 

McCombie pointed out that there’s a need to request for a renewal and pay the $10 fee as opposed to Hoffman’s statement that it is an automatic renewal. She also said that buyers are required within 10 days to bring a record to an FFL (federal firearms licensed) dealer but no penalty is given if they do not.

“If a cop comes to the door and asks you where your gun is and I hope everybody's listening to this part — and you say well I reported it to Hammond FFL,” pointing to her seatmate, Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), as an example. “Hammond FFL is no longer in business, there's no record of where that gun is. Can you tell me how that promotes safety in Illinois? It doesn’t promote safety.”

McCombie also asked if there is anything in the measure that would address crimes committed by non-FOID carriers. Hoffman affirmed that it "would provide for a task force that would be able to stop crime because it would be in place…of the $10 that goes to FOID, five will go to a revocation task force that will then go out and collect guns from people who have a revoked FOID.”

“I don’t know about everybody else in this body but I feel so safe that we’re going to have a task force challenge this issue.” McCombie strongly urged the assembly to vote no.

According to Senate amendment 1, the bill would create "the Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force to identify and research all available grants, resources, and revenue that may be applied for and used by all entities responsible for reporting federal and state firearms prohibitors to the Illinois State Police and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Provides that under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, these reporting entities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, courts, law enforcement and corrections."

The second Senate amendment to HB 562 “Provides that any person within this State who receives any firearm, stun gun, or taser from a person who is not a federally licensed firearm dealer shall provide a record of the transfer within 10 days of the transfer to a federally licensed firearm dealer and shall not be required to maintain a transfer record. Provides that the federally licensed firearm dealer shall maintain the transfer record for 20 years from date of receipt.”

HB 562 passed both houses and has been sent for the governor’s approval.