Illinois State Police Remove Expiration Dates from FOID Cards
On January 1, 2022, a new law went into effect, which simplified and redesigned the FOID Card in Illinois. Under 430 ILCS 65/13.4, anytime someone is approved for a concealed carry license (CCL), their existing Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) will automatically be renewed. According to the new law, the newly issued FOID will be valid for 10 years from the date of approval instead of from the date of the original card’s issuance. Now, the FOID Card will have a space designated in the upper right corner, which reflects a “designator” for CCL, if the FOID-holder also has a CCL. Previously, there were expiration dates on these cards, but now the only way to know your expiration date is to know your date of issuance and add 10 years. While this change may at first glance seem like a common-sense change, the consequences (whether intended or not) may be a bit more troubling. At My Gun Lawyer, our primary focus is protecting the right to bear arms and ensuring that every law-abiding Illinoisan has the right to protect themselves. Here are a few problems we foresee with the new amendments.
Accidental Expiration
Because there will no longer be a clear date of expiration on each FOID Card, it will be easy for the average person to forget about it and miss the deadline. Most gun owners find out that they are approaching expiration, because when they go to the store to buy ammunition or hit the range for some practice, usually someone will mention that their FOID is about to expire. Or they will take out their card and look at it. Without that expiration date on the card, we suspect many people will just forget all about it. Imagine you get pulled over for speeding, you tell the officer that you have a firearm in your vehicle, and they ask to see your FOID. You take it out of your wallet for the first time in months and proudly hand it to the officer. He quickly informs you that it is expired. You could now be facing criminal charges and the loss of your right to have a FOID card in the future – over a technical issue.
It is Unknown How the State Will Treat Non-Resident CCL Holders
Currently, Illinois allows non-residents to obtain an Illinois CCL. So long as you are from a U.S. state or territory that also has a statutory concealed carry law, you can get one here. This is important because not a lot of states have laws that Illinois considers “qualifying.” But consider if a person from another state has family in Illinois, and they wish to have an Illinois CCL. Well, only state residents can qualify for a FOID, but out-of-state residents can have a CCL. Will the State issue a separate CCL for these individuals?
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has a handy – though a bit outdated – guide for people traveling through Illinois. This guide to transporting your firearm appears to suggest that although one does not need an Illinois FOID if they are an out-of-state resident, Illinois does not recognize out-of-state conceal carry permits.
Criminal Charges and FOID Revocations
My Gun Lawyer is a division of Crossroad Legal, LLC, an entirely veteran-owned and operated law firm located in Edwardsville, Illinois, just 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Our founder, Jaye R. Lindsay, is a decorated combat veteran and skilled trial lawyer. We’ve devoted a significant amount of time and energy developing a process for helping Illinois citizens restore their right to bear arms. If you or someone you know lost their Illinois FOID Card and believe the revocation or denial is unjust, go to MyGunLawyer.com and find out more. We also offer criminal defense representation within 120 miles of our office and NFA Gun trusts and legacy estate planning for firearm collectors. Reach out to us today!
