SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Even as Illinois State Police files a rule change regarding how “clear and present danger” reports can be used in connection with FOID card applications, one Illinois lawmaker wants to hold parents more liable for mass shootings in certain situations.
More specifically, Republican State Representative Mark Batnick introduced legislation Friday making parents more than just financially liable for damages if they sponsored their child’s FOID application.
“They would be civilally and criminally liable for (the child’s) actions,” said Batnick (R-Plainfield). “If you’re concerned about your son or daughter doing something bad, maybe you should think twice about signing off on a FOID card for them. Essentially, what you’re doing is you’re vouching for your child.”
Batnick says gun safety needs to be taken seriously, and he says making parents criminally liable increases accountability for what parents do for their kids.
State law currently requires parents to sponsor FOID card applications for those under 21, and Batnick says that got him thinking about recent shootings.
“We’re learning more about brain development,” said Batnick. “When you look at a lot of the shootings that have happened that are horrific, similar to the Highland Park shooting, they seem to be done by kids that are mostly men that are mid-to-late-teens, early 20’s.”
Batnick calls the addition “practical” legislation.
The legislation is House Bill 5769.
