Illinois Moms Demand Action, Everytown, G-PAC Illinois Applaud Illinois House Passage of Legislation to Close Deadly Gaps in State Gun Laws

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, and the Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC Illinois) today released the following statement after the Illinois House of Representatives voted to pass the Fix the FOID Act, SB 1966, which would close loopholes in state law that make it possible for people prohibited from having firearms to easily access them nonetheless. The bill will now move back to the Illinois Senate for concurrence.

“People are looking for action to prevent gun violence, and Springfield is listening,” said Tanja Radakovich Murray, a volunteer with the Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Closing deadly gaps in our gun laws is a matter of public safety, and the Senate should act quickly to send this important legislation to the governor’s desk.”

“We are grateful to chief sponsor Representative Kathleen Willis and proud of the Illinois House for working to close the gaps in our gun laws to ensure that those who are prohibited from gun possession, are not able to easily evade the law and arm themselves,” said Kathleen Sances, president and CEO of G-PAC. “We urge the Illinois Senate to take this critical legislation over the finish line by voting yes to fixing the FOID.”

In the past four years alone, nearly 27,000 Illinois residents who have had their Firearm Owner’s Identification Cards revoked have not confirmed with law enforcement that they relinquished their firearms as required by law, according to a Chicago Tribune investigation published last week. As a result, the Tribune reported, “[a]s many as 30,000 guns may still be in the possession of Illinois residents” who are legally prohibited from having them. The startling investigation underscored the need for lawmakers to pass the Fix the FOID Act.