The Illinois State Police conducted a firearms enforcement blitz with details in all 102 counties across the state from June 16 through July 31, 2022, resulting in over 1,000 people being brought into compliance.
The enforcement details are designed to ensure those who have had their firearm rights revoked are in compliance with the Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) Act.
“Once again, our ISP officers are making Illinois safer by getting dangerous firearms out of the wrong hands,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Since 2019, ISP has executed hundreds of details— placing thousands of individuals in compliance with the FOID Act. Last month’s firearm enforcement blitz is another example of the ways that ISP is preventing gun violence and protecting our communities. I want to thank Director Kelly for his leadership and the rest of the ISP team for their hard work.”
“The ISP continues to aggressively enforce our laws to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those posing a significant threat to themselves or others,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Through these enforcement details, our impact on this key factor in gun violence continues to strengthen.”
ISP enforcement efforts focus on those individuals who are more likely to be a safety risk. For example, ISP recently worked with the Batavia Police Department and other law enforcement agencies as part of the FOID enforcement blitz. In mid-June, ISP received a Clear and Present Danger report from the Batavia Police Department. ISP reviewed the report and found enough evidence to revoke the FOID card of the subject in the Clear and Present Danger report. ISP immediately notified city and county law enforcement agencies. As part of the enforcement blitz, law enforcement executed an arrest warrant for firearms revocation non-compliance as well as a search warrant. Law enforcement arrested the individual and found a pistol, two rifles, more than a thousand rounds of live ammunition, a ballistic vest, explosives, an incendiary device, and bomb making materials in the individual’s home.
During the enforcement blitz, ISP completed 201 details statewide consisting of 1,716 compliance checks. As a result of these efforts, 1,014 individuals were placed into compliance by surrendering their FOID Cards, transferring all firearms out of their possession, and completing a Firearm Disposition Record. ISP completed 63 details in northern Illinois (Zones 1, 2, and 3) consisting of 421 compliance checks resulting in 223 individuals placed into compliance.
“We commend the Illinois State Police for working to ensure that individuals whose FOID cards have been revoked are following the law and transferring their firearms,” said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. “I dedicated a unit to this important work nearly a decade ago, and we are committed to working with ISP to help to keep our communities safe.”
In addition to its own efforts, ISP is providing $2 Million in grants to local law enforcement agencies for firearms enforcement through Public Act 102-0237. Local law enforcement agencies interested in a collaborative effort to reduce and prevent illegal possession and use of firearms, firearm related homicides, and other violent crimes are eligible to apply for a grant.
