MCLEAN COUNTY (25News Now) - The McLean County Justice Committee explained the process of firearms ownership, and how someone obtains or gets one revoked.
A Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card, can be suspended for various reasons: an indictment or conviction, admission to a mental health facility, someone issuing an order of protection against the FOID holder, domestic battery, or the FOID holder is deemed a clear and present danger to society.
Depending on the offense, domestic violence victims, families, or law enforcement can request a firearm restraining order for two weeks and extend it after a court hearing.
A county sheriff’s deputy and Illinois State Police ask the gun owner to record what guns they own in a disposition, then surrender their weapon and FOID card.
The sheriff will contact them if the weapon has not been turned in.
“If it’s a criminal case, there are two separate things here,” said McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane. “If it’s a criminal case, usually the firearm is taken as evidence, and it’s not returned until there’s a disposition in court and an order from a judge to return that firearm.
Lane also said the county does not track how many weapons an individual has, and some people could still get access to illegal guns or steal one.
