Carbondale Reporter

With constituents upset over long delays to renew their Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards, Rep. Patrick Windhorst last month signed on as lead sponsor on a package of bills designed to fix the renewal process.

The Republican from Metropolis has said the wait is particularly long for residents facing appeals over the revocation of their cards, according to a recent report in the Southern Illinoisans.  

The first bill, House Bill 4447, would allow FOID cardholders to start the renewal process earlier. Then they wouldn't have to fear their card expiring before getting a renewal. As the law presently states, cardholders can't begin the renewal process until 60 days before the card's expiration date.

HB 4450 would ultimately make it mandatory for the Illinois State Police to align the expiration dates of the card with the expiration date of the concealed carry permits. 

The third bill, HB 4448, more clearly defines the appeals process for denials or revocations and automatically renews expired FOID cards as long as the cardholder has a clean record with the state.