SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois State Police officials are filing a emergency rule change regarding FOID card applications if there is a so-called “clear and present danger.”
The rule change was filed at the request of Governor J.B. Pritzker following the Fourth of July mass shooting in suburban Highland Park.
State Police Director Brendan Kelly says it will implement what he calls a broader use of “clear and present danger reports” — potentially barring people from receiving FOID cards, or having them revoked.
The state says administrative rules have limited the State Police’s ability to use those reports since 2013.
“These modifications to administrative law will immediately give the ISP the legal authority to consider more evidence when determining whether to issue or revoke a FOID card and will strengthen the ISP’s ability to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” said Brendan Kelly, director, Illinois State Police, in a news release.
The rule change would allow ISP to apply the statutory definition of “clear and present danger,” and will also clarify their ability to use and keep those reports under state and federal law.
The father of the Highland Park shooter reportedly sponsored his son’s FOID card application in 2019, even after he had threatened to kill himself and his family.
The rule is submitted to the Secretary of State for consideration by the legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
