South Central Reporter

In the wake of the 2019 mass shooting in Aurora, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker sought to reform the firearm owner’s identification or FOID card process. But the alleged Highland Park shooter was issued a card despite threatening to “kill everyone” in his family, which prompted Highland Park police to issue a clear and present danger report with the Illinois State Police. 

According to a Capitol News Illinois report, Republican legislators questioned the ISP during a Joint Committee on Administrative Rules session, with the law enforcement agency claiming it didn’t have the authority to deny a FOID card to the alleged shooter, Robert Crimo II, who was able to buy weapons just three months after the alleged threat.

In an interview, state Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher, said recent trends indicate that more regulation is not the answer. 

“The evidence is clear,” Wilhour said in a recent interview. “We do not need more laws. We need better enforcement of the laws we have.”

However, NBC Chicago reports that state laws allow authorities, including school administrators, to issue clear and present danger reports with the ISP to head off a potential incident if a person could prove to be a danger to themselves or others should they obtain a firearm.  

The report notes that the ISP can reject a request for a FOID card or revoke a card for someone who may pose a threat. Despite this, NBC Chicago notes that Crimo requested a card several months after the threats were made in his home, was granted a card and purchased several firearms over the next two years.  

“There were warning signs the Highland Park shooter was a danger to society, and yet he was able to get a FOID card and legally purchase a firearm,” Wilhour said in the interview. “Let’s focus on enforcement instead of creating more laws.”

After the 2019 shooting in Aurora, which left six dead at a workplace and injured five police officers, Pritzker began reform efforts, leading to a law, which took effect Jan. 1 and established a task force to help with taking firearms from people who have had their FOID cards revoked, according to duguoin.com. 

The website notes that under the law, the ISP was tasked with overseeing local and federal databases to find people who should not be able to own firearms. Wihour maintains there are factors at play that go beyond the current laws.

“The economy is certainly a factor,” he said in an interview. “The breakdown of the family is a factor. Social media is a factor. Mental health is a factor. We need to deal with this issue at its root cause because papering over the problem with more laws is not working.”

Moreover, Real Clear Politics reports that Thomas DeVore, a Republican candidate for attorney general, voiced his concern in an op-ed piece about crime in the Chicagoland area and contended that the implementation of the SAFE-T Act on Jan. 1, 2023, would lead to an increase in crime. DeVore points the finger at incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Fox for putting more criminals back out on the streets. 

“The SAFE-T Act eliminates cash bail which will lead to criminals being put back on the street to commit more crimes,” Wilhour said. “There is no question the SAFE-T Act will make our communities less safe. “ 

According to Every Town For Gun Safety, Illinois has the nation's sixth strictest gun control laws, requiring background checks for all gun purchases. The website notes that more than 1,500 people are killed yearly in the state due to gun violence. 

The Chicago Police Department reports 444 murders and 1,885 shootings as of Aug. 28.