* Press release…

To help ensure those who are prohibited by law from having a firearm, and who pose a threat, do not have guns in their possession, the Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted numerous firearm enforcement details in counties across the state from June 24 through July 19, 2024. ​ The enforcement details focused on individuals who have become the subject of a Firearms Restraining Order or Clear and Present Danger, or received a criminal conviction, among other reasons. ​

“Firearms Restraining Orders and Clear and Present Danger reporting are two highly effective tools for getting firearms out of the hands of someone who poses a significant threat to themselves or others,” said Brendan F. Kelly. ​ “As the use of these tools increases, so does the need for law enforcement to be able to safely conduct these arduous, intensive enforcement details.”

From July 2023 through June 2024, ISP received approximately 11,300 Clear and Present Danger reports, of which more than 10,800 were affirmed. ​ While not all of those 10,800 individuals are out of compliance with state law, law enforcement is able to take action on those who are to bring them into compliance, thereby making communities safer.

During the recent ISP focused enforcement details, ISP officers completed 192 details and brought 673 people into compliance with state law. ​ As a result of these efforts, 318 individuals transferred firearms out of their possession. ​ ISP has been conducting firearm enforcement details since May 2019. ​ From that time through July 2024, ISP has conducted 2,303 details and placed 5,549 individuals into compliance with the law.

In addition to its own efforts, ISP provides grants to local law enforcement agencies to help protect the public by transferring firearms out of the possession of a person legally prohibited from having a firearm and who is a danger to themselves or others.

In Fiscal Year 2024, ISP awarded almost $1 million in firearm enforcement grants to 16 law enforcement agencies across the state. ​ During that time, local law enforcement agencies completed 7,048 compliance checks and brought 2,101 people into compliance with state law by transferring all firearms out of their possession and documenting that transfer with a Firearm Disposition Record. ISP awarded another $1.5 million in grants to 21 law enforcement agencies in Fiscal Year 2025.

* I followed up by asking how many firearms had been seized in Fiscal Year 2024, which ended June 30. ISP’s response…

A C&PD report is about homicidal or suicidal conduct. A firearm may or may not even be involved in the events that led to a report being submitted. An affirmation of the C&PD simply means that person is now prohibited from possessing a firearm, so if they attempt a purchase a firearm, they are denied. Some portion of the conduct could involve a firearm, but the subject may no longer possess any firearms after the C&PD report so there is nothing to seize or transfer.

Comparing the number of affirmed C&PD reports to the number of firearms transferred/seized does not provide an accurate picture of enforcement efforts related to C&PD reports.

In Fiscal Year 2024, ISP transferred or seized 812 firearms during its ISP blitz and quarterly ISP details. This does not include smaller details that occurred throughout the year. That firearm disposition data is not readily available.

In Fiscal Year 2024, law enforcement grantees seized or transferred 1,180 firearms during compliance checks. Other law enforcement agencies who have not applied for and received a firearm enforcement grant still conduct compliance checks. However, the number of firearms seized or transferred during those compliance checks is not reported to ISP.

To say there were 10,800 affirmed C&PD reports, but 1,992 firearms seized or transferred, without taking into account whether the subject of the C&PD report had a FOID or firearms, or may have already been in compliance, would be a misrepresentation of enforcement efforts. For example, of the affirmed reports, approximately 5,160 did not have a FOID card or application. A comprehensive analysis of the data has not been done at this time.