(The Center Square) – A recently introduced Illinois Senate bill would strip the driver’s license of a Firearms Owners ID card holder that doesn’t surrender a revoked permit.
Senate Bill 2720, filed by state Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Deerfield, says that if someone’s FOID card is revoked and they don’t surrender that and their firearms to Illinois State Police, their driver’s license could be suspended.
Messages requesting comment from Morrison were not immediately returned.
The Illinois State Rifle Association President Doug Mayhall said in a social media video that if such a measure passed, it would be a “new way to target and harass gun owners.”
“And this time, they want to go after your driver’s license and possibly your livelihood,” Mayhall said. “Afterall, if you can’t drive, how are you going to get to work? Gee.”
Mayhall said such action could be triggered if someone uses “red flag” to falsely target a particular gun owner without a single hearing. He also questioned how such a process could be bungled.
“What if a person complied with [the law] but the Illinois State Police database is not updated,” Mayhall said. “There is no recourse in this bill as it is presently written to correct that.”
Legislators return to session Tuesday.
