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Police inaction means mentally ill keep their guns

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Illinois

Thousands of people with mental illnesses have been barred from owning guns in Illinois in recent years under measures put in place amid a wave of deadly mass shootings across the country.

* The truly bad news…

But the Illinois State Police weren’t tracking whether they reported what [the mentally ill] did with their guns [after they were declared ineligible to own them] — a requirement under the law. The agency began to do so only weeks ago — after being asked by Sun-Times reporters why it wasn’t already doing that.

The laws also allowed for the seizure of those guns.

But that seldom happens, records show. The state police say local police are in a better position to do that. Local police, in turn, point the finger right back at them.

As a result — despite laws that have been called among the nation’s best at flagging people who shouldn’t be allowed to own guns because of mental illness — authorities say they don’t know how many of them remain armed. […]

“We can’t just go in to somebody’s house and take their guns” [said Hoffman Estates Sgt. Kasia Cawley]/

Actually, under the law, they can. The local police can seek a warrant to search the homes of people who haven’t reported the whereabouts of their guns after having their FOID cards revoked. They can then seize any guns they find.

Pardon the expression, but this is insane. Go read the whole thing.

* And I’m not saying that this incident is a direct consequence of police inaction, but it’s worth a look…

A 28-year-old woman apparently shot herself in the head late Sunday after she opened fire and critically wounded a father and daughter in a southwest suburban Bridgeview home, police said.

Neighbors called police at 11:32 p.m. when they saw a person dressed in black, carrying a gun and walking around the house in the 7200 block of South Roberts Road, according to Bridgeview Police Chief Walter Klimek. The person, who was thought to be a woman, then entered the house and the neighbors reported that they heard gunfire.

Officers responded to the home and looked through a window to see a person lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen, Klimek said. The 5th District SWAT unit, which is comprised of members from police departments from the 5th District Circuit Court area, was then called to the scene.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 9:27 am

Comments

If someone else in that residence has a valid FOID card they would not be able to take the weapons. All police agencies are overworked and under staffed. But we already have high taxes that people complain about.

Comment by Tuesday's Pizza Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 9:37 am
I imagine a police operation to seize guns from someone deemed mentally ill could entail some significant risks and require a lot of time and manpower.

I’m not surprised that neither troopers or locals are stepping up until someone makes them.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:09 am
I was working for state police when this law passed. Good law, good intentions, however you cannot imagine the man hours needed to fulfill this aspect. Headcount is down to less than 50% of what it was 25 years ago. No additional appropriations were included in the bill. The FOID section was down to 3 people when I left. No way can this be accomplished without additional manpower. Just sayin

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:24 am
Typical bureaucracy. Pass laws, forget about following up, then pass more laws without regard for enforcement of the existing ones. I bet this changes now that it has some exposure. Great job by the ST.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:24 am
It’s true. Bureaucrats are so timid about going into homes without the owners’ permission to seize weapons they retained in deliberate violation of the law. So lazy.

I know, I know, there was also the reporting thing. Well, I can’t say how much a factor it is, but I’d bet there is some willful ignorance and neglect of the issue here based on reluctance to provoke potentially lethal conflicts. Mental health doesn’t even need to be an issue here; a substantial portion of our culture is soaked in paranoia, justified or not, over government seizure of firearms. You don’t have to be sick to panic.

Comment by Threepwood Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 10:42 am
Rich stigmatizes mental illness.

Comment by Liberty Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 12:01 pm
===Actually, under the law, they can. The local police can seek a warrant to search the homes of people who haven’t reported the whereabouts of their guns after having their FOID cards revoked. They can then seize any guns they find.

My aunt had the local sheriff in Greene County do this with her ex husband. It’s terrifying that this isn’t happening regularly.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 12:18 pm
The troopers are being paid over $100,000 a year to write seat belt tickets. Come on maybe they should earn their money. A good law to protect us from Danger and they worry about minor traffic offenses.

Comment by Seat belt Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Does anyone remember Roby Illinois and the fiasco there?

Comment by SamHall Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 1:17 pm
I will always remember it as Roby Ridge.

Comment by Al Terego Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 2:18 pm
“Rich stigmatizes mental illness.”

Nope.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 3:24 pm
As the ONLY state in the union that has a FOID card, just wondering, how do other states handle it?

Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 5:21 pm
BDD, I would like to know the same.

Comment by Freezeup Monday, Nov 16, 15 @ 9:37 pm