Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) | Facebook
Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) | Facebook
Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) on Jan. 17 announced that he is sponsoring a bill to cancel the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
Illinois residents must have a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card to legally possess firearms or ammunition. The card is issued by the Illinois State Police to any qualified applicant.
“I believe the FOID card is unconstitutional and should be repealed! To that end, I have filed HB 4376," Jacobs said in a press release published on his website. "I believe in the protections afforded law-abiding citizens in the 2nd Amendment. Illinois is one of only three states to require the FOID card. I strongly favor action to void the FOID card.”
House Bill 4376 would completely repeal the FOID, according to Legiscan.
An Illinois Circuit judge in 2019 ruled that the FOID law, “makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens who are attempting to protect their lives within their own homes," as reported by Fox2Now.
The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is also opposed to FOID cards.
“The right to bear arms should not be contingent on paying a fee," the ISRA said in a statement, according go Fox Illinois. "Right now, there is legislation pending in Springfield to make these fees even costlier. It is absolutely ridiculous that honest citizens should have to pay fees, fill out applications and wait on the government to respond to their requests just to be able to exercise their rights.”
In recent weeks, Jacobs has also called for the repeal of the SAFE-T Act, The Act puts conditions on policing and changes penalties for specific crimes, according to SW Illinois News.
Alerts Sign-up