* WREX…
Illinois lead the country in FBI background checks associated with the sale, transfer or permitting of firearms for the month of June.
The FBI conducted more than 3.9 million background checks making it the highest month on record for background checks since the bureau began keeping statistics in 1998. […]
The state with the most background checks? Illinois.
The FBI ran background checks on 706,404 people in the state, according to the data.
Click here to see the full data set.
* Tribune…
Take your pick. The pandemic, the police killing of George Floyd, the presidential election. Protests, looting, calls to “defund the police.”
Any one of such similar events historically has been enough to push some people off the fence, prompting them to finally buy a gun or add to their collection.
But with a wave of crises crashing across the country, more than 40,000 Illinoisans applied for a gun permit in a little more than two weeks this month, more than 500% over this time last year, according to Illinois State Police.
- fs - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:23 am:
I’d be curious if all of those background checks are for purchases, or if some are related to people renewing their foid cards. We’re a little different from other states in that respect.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:25 am:
I am guilty on two counts.
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:31 am:
I haven’t bought any guns this year. My safe is full, so its either buy another safe or sell one to make room. Tuff decision.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:40 am:
We cannot believe there are 706K Illinois residents without a gun/FOI card. That is amazing
Maybe some of the Gomers and Gomerettes forgot they had a card and applied again
BTW does FBI report how many failed? Who led the nation in failures.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:41 am:
Not surprised. Am running into a lot of individuals who are claiming they are either getting a gun or just got one in the past three months. The fear factor is out there between the Covid-19 virus and the post Floyd death and its aftermath.
- Silent Majority - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:41 am:
Could be worse… some states have and some are moving to background checks for ammo sales….
- BigLou - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:48 am:
Is there a way to tell by region, city or county where the background checks are being done? Wouldn’t be surprised if there is a massive increase in cook and collar counties.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:48 am:
Bruce. By another safe. Firearms have been a good ROI.
- Glenn - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:54 am:
FOID card holders, who submit their renewal application will remain valid during the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation and for a period of 12 months following the termination of the disaster, even if their renewal application is/was not submitted prior to expiration.
CCL licensees, who submit their renewal application, will remain valid during the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation and for a period of 12 months following its termination, even if their CCL renewal application was not submitted prior to expiration.
http://www.isp.state.il.us/media/pressdetails.cfm?ID=1063
- Elmer Keith - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:24 pm:
With all these new gun owning “constituents” for the ISRA & NRA, maybe they could seize the moment and do something constructive, like removing CTA buses and trains as gun-free zones for those with concealed carry permits. That should be a slam dunk with all the looting in Chicago, right?
Although Richard Pearson and Valinda Rowe used Chicago black man Otis McDonald as a lead plaintiff, NRA members mostly live in all-white small towns, they don’t really care about their “comrades” waiting on a CTA bus stop on the south side, they like to pretend though. Plus, doing anything constructive would take initiative, and the gun losers specialize in defense only.
- Matt B - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:30 pm:
Hopefully those new gun owners take the responsibility of owning a firearm seriously and safely store them. And also take the time to appreciate and advocate for those second amendment rights they now exercise.
- Mason born - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:34 pm:
Does ISP give data for the number of FOID cards applied for in a month? that would seem to be a good measure for NEW owners.
- ;) - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:54 pm:
Not surprising. At all.
- flea - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:07 pm:
disagree if guns are good ROI…Kinda like diamonds, Keep adding to collection with no inclination to sell
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 1:30 pm:
inheritance.
- FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 2:43 pm:
As uncertainty increases the ownership of firearms will too. I know several of my neighbors who have asked for a firearm for either sale or loan, I had to turn down all offers for their lack of FOID cards. They all have applied but it could be months before they get them.
- 44th - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 3:27 pm:
For all you new AR home defenders stay inside and get rid of the pink polos.
- FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 3:44 pm:
A good thing to know in Illinois:
720 ILCS 5/Art. 7 heading)ARTICLE 7. JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE; EXONERATION
Not just firearms but any use of force.