Freeport Rep. Andrew Chesney On The New FOID Bill

89th District State Representative Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is not a fan of the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card at all, and the latest incarnation of the FOID card hasn't changed his mind one bit.

The FOID card, for those who don't know, is something an Illinois resident who wishes to own a firearm, buy a firearm, or purchase firearm ammunition must have. The FOID card is separate from the Illinois CCL (Concealed Carry License), which Illinois residents must have in order to carry a weapon concealed on their person.

Earlier in the year, Representative Chesney introduced House Bill 1770 (HB1770), which would have repealed the Illinois FOID Card Act. However, Mr. Chesney's bill was never allowed an opportunity to be voted on by the House Rules Committee during the regular Spring session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Instead, House Bill 562 (HB562) took the place of HB1770, and was passed by the Illinois House this week by a vote of 75-40.

Representative Chesney was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his day to join the WROK Morning Show on Friday morning, and I asked him about the transformation of his original idea of getting rid of the FOID card into the new form that was voted on this week and awaits Governor Pritzker's signature.

Representative Chesney:

I filed legislation to fix the FOID problems by eliminating the unconstitutional FOID system. Instead, gun-grabbing politicians are doubling down on bloated bureaucracies that serve no one well-- especially the unprecedented number of innocent Chicago residents hunted down by freed felons in gun-free zones.

According to the language of HB562, the changes being made to the FOID card would incentivize FOID card applicants to voluntarily submit fingerprints to Illinois State Police by offering automatic card renewals when they go through a firearm purchase background check. It would also make electronic copies of FOID cards and concealed carry licenses available, making it easier for lawful gun owners to always carry their license.

Other changes include having the Illinois State Police keep track of state and federal crime databases and then compare them with FOID and concealed carry license holders to start the revocation process. The Illinois State Police will also have to set up a stolen firearm database so officials can compare them to gun transfer records.

Here's more on the FOID card changes, and an update on the Puppy Mills legislation that Representative Chesney introduced earlier in the year:

Here's more on the FOID card changes, and an update on the Puppy Mills legislation that Representative Chesney introduced earlier in the year: