FOID Delays

I am now going on 40 days of waiting on an FOID application to be processed and a card mailed to me.  During this wait I do not posses a valid card and can not purchase ammunition or firearms, sure hope I didn't want to purchase a firearm or ammunition for Christmas.

The Illinois State Police received and cashed the check.  This was accomplished in 4 days from being mailed to the check clearing my bank.  I have sent an inquiry using the ISP's online form, https://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/secure/foidinquiry.cfm, and am awaiting a response to that.  I will be contacting my State Representatives shortly.

Here is the Illinois Law that codifies the time the ISP has to act on an application and where the monies must go.  Unfortunately, Illinois law does not provide a means for the people to bring suit against the ISP for failure to process an application.  This effectively removes the burden of action within 30 days. 

(430 ILCS 65/5)(from Ch. 38, par. 83‑5)Sec. 5.

The Department of State Police shall either approve or deny all applications within 30 days from the date they are received, and every applicant found qualified pursuant to Section 8 of this Act by the Department shall be entitled to a Firearm Owner's Identification Card upon the payment of a $10 fee. Any applicant who is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the Reserve Forces of the United States is exempt from the application fee. $6 of each fee derived from the issuance of Firearm Owner's Identification Cards, or renewals thereof, shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund in the State Treasury; $1 of such fee shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and $3 of such fee shall be deposited in the Firearm Owner's Notification Fund. Monies in the Firearm Owner's Notification Fund shall be used exclusively to pay for the cost of sending notices of expiration of Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under Section 13.2 of this Act. Excess monies in the Firearm Owner's Notification Fund shall be used to ensure the prompt and efficient processing of applications received under Section 4 of this Act.

So, I am now deprived of my Second Amendment rights without due process.  All in the name of  "identifying persons who are not qualified to acquire or possess firearms, firearm ammunition, stun guns, and tasers within the State of Illinois by the establishment of a system of Firearm Owner's Identification Cards, thereby establishing a practical and workable system by which law enforcement authorities will be afforded an opportunity to identify those persons who are prohibited by Section 24‑3.1 of the "Criminal Code of 1961", as amended, from acquiring or possessing firearms and firearm ammunition and who are prohibited by this Act from acquiring stun guns and tasers."-430 ILCS 65 "Firearm Owners Identification Card Act".

Thousands March on Illinois Capital to Support Gun Rights

Springfield, IL

March 10, 2010

The Illinois State Rifle Association, IllinoisCarry.com, Second Amendment Sister, Inc., and many other organizations that support the right to keep and bear arms marched on the State Capital March 10, 2010 to lobby the State legislature.  They were joined by Otis McDonald and David and Collen Lawson who are plaintiffs in the McDonald v. Chicago case.

As the march approached the call for "Concealed Carry Now!" could be heard resonating from those attending.  The group gathered on the front lawn of the capitol building and heard from ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson and Otis McDonald, one of the plaintiffs in McDonald v. Chicago, a case recently heard in the U.S. Sepreme Court.  Some of the legislators took the time to come outside and address the group and expressed support for the cause.

After the rally outside, the group entered the capital building and dropped by their legislators offices to let them know how they felt.  Armed with a list of legislation they supported and opposed.  The predominate bill supported was a bill introduced by Rep. Brandon Phelps(D-Harrisburg) that creates a concealed carry permit system.  Opposed is a list of bills that further restrict private ownership of firearms including HB-5480 introduced by Rep. Harry Osterman(D-Chicago) that requires private individuals to go to the place of business of an FFL holder and have that FFL holder preform a background check under NICS.

I spoke with Richard Pearson, executive director of the ISRA, who said an estimate of over 6,000 attended the rally.  That fell short of the 10,000 goal, but was still an increase from the previous year.

Supreme Court - McDonald v. Chicago

Analysis: 2d Amendment extension likely

I found this to be a very interesting article. I urge everyone to read it.

Fee Increases-unhappy new year to sportsmen in Illinois.

With the beginning of a new year the cost to hunt and fish gets higher

SB1846
10/30/2009 Senate Passed Both Houses
11/25/2009 Senate Sent to the Governor
12/4/2009 Senate Governor Approved
12/4/2009 Senate Effective Date January 1, 2010
12/4/2009 Senate Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0831

Public Act 096-0831


(515 ILCS 5/20-45) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-45)
Sec. 20-45. License fees for residents.
Fees for licenses for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $14.50 $12.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old, and one-half of the current fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or older, commencing with the 1994 license year.

The sportsmen's combination license fee shall be $25.50 $18.50.

The fee for a Deer Hunting Permit to take deer with either bow and arrow or gun shall not exceed $25.00 $15.00 for residents of the State.

(The fee has not changed for non-residents.)

The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of Illinois is $12 $7. For residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of Illinois. Nonresidents shall be charged $57 $50 for a hunting license.

Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $15 $10 and shall receive a stamp.

(No increase in the Habitat Stamp)

Section 99-99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on January 1, 2010.

IL Gubernatorial Race 2010 and Your Gun Rights

This blog post from The Liberals Bane is a good insight in to the race.

Depressing First Season

Did your opening weekend look like this?

I didn't see a deer all weekend.  To much of this stuff!

I also feel that EHD may have had some impact in my area. We had an outbreak in '07 that seemed to take quite a few  deer.  I don't know if there is an accurate way to determine how many died of EHD or not.  I haven't seen any numbers from the IDNR on this.  One guy I talked with said he had observed several deer around a pond near his property in '07.  Most of the deer he observed appeared to be mature deer found dead or showing signs of illness.

Most hunters I talked with have seen fewer deer this season, but it is likely because of more corn to hide in this year.  Yet, I can't help but think the EHD in '07 killed several of the deer that would have had fawns that would have been at the age class we would be seeing the most of this year while hunting.

I am hoping many acres of corn are harvested before the next season.

So, I thought I would clean my .22 rifle.

I have been shooting more now that the beans are out and the fields are open.  I was out today shooting with my middle child, who is about to go on her first deer hunt.  We were having a nice time punching paper at 50yd.  I started thinking the gun was rather dirty, so I should clean it.  Then it occurred to me that I should shoot a group dirty, clean the gun and shoot another group.

And so I did, I printed off a target, then I shot a 10rnd. group at 50yd.  I then took the rifle in, cleaned the bore, and brought it out for another 10 rnd. group with a clean bore.  The results surprised me!

To my shock, the second group, the one from a clean bore, was worse than the first.

Left: group from dirty bore     Right: group from clean bore

I fired these groups from bags at 50yds. with my Marlin 881 w/scope.  The ammunition was the Federal 550 Round Value Pack ammo.  This also points out the consistency of this particular ammunition or maybe the lack of.  I shoot way better groups with CCI.

I will have to try this again with different ammunition and see how that turns out.

Maybe I should stop cleaning this one or change ammo?

Here comes Gun Season

The 2009 firearm season is on us.  I hope everyone is ready!
I have been trying to bow hunt, that has not been going well.  I think all the corn that is still in is hurting deer movement.  I haven't seen many deer at all this year.  I haven't even noticed much rut activity.  I hope the farmers get a bunch of corn out before the coming rain.  If they don't it will be some time before they get in the fields again.  And I think that could make the first firearm weekend a frustrating hunt.

My middle girl is gun hunting for the first time this year.  I am excited about this.  She shoots well so I have a good feeling about her getting her first deer.  My youngest wants to hunt like her bigger sister but she is still to young to hunt.

Don't forget the late winter season has changed.  It is now two weekends instead of the one it used to be.

Firearm Season Information
November 20, 21, 22 (first season)
December 3, 4, 5, 6 (second season)

Muzzle Loader Season Information
Dec 11, 12, 13 and Dec 3, 4, 5, 6 (second firearm season)

Late Winter Season Information
December 31 - January 3 and January 15-17, 2010

Remember, any unfilled tag from firearm, youth, or muzzle loader is valid for the late winter season if that county is open for late winter hunting.

Good Luck!

IDNR Police still going to ticket hunters for uncased weapons.

The question I asked the IDNR:

"To: DNR, Lawreception
Subject: IL vs Diggins clarification.


With the recent IL Supreme Court decision in Diggins, in wich the Court's opinion declared the center console of a vehicle a case, is the Illinois Wildlife code 520 ILCS 5/2.33(n) affected by this ruling?"

The response from IDNR:

"David,


The Diggins case only affects the Unlawful Use of Weapon section in the criminal code. It does not affect the wildlife code. The definition of a case is well defined in the wildlife code, so hunters must still abide by the firearm/bow casing law under the wildlife code. The definition of a case under the wildlife code can be seen on page 6 of the following link; http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/pdf/season_dates.pdf The case law under the wildlife code can be read on page 9 & 41 of the same link.


Let me know if you have any more questions.




Officer Roy Maul
IDNR Law Enforcement
Springfield, Illinois"

Now the question is, when does a person go from a hunter to a non-hunter?

If I choose to keep a pistol in the console when I drive to and from the area I hunt, will I be charged under Wildlife code?

What now?

With the Illinois Supreme Court ruling that the center console of a car is a legal enclosure to transport a firearm, how long will it take the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation to tighten what is defined as a case. The Illinois Wildlife code already specifically defines what a case is. Will the General Assembly adopt this definition or will they drop the definition altogether?

If I know anything about Illinois politicians, they will prefer to make a more restrictive definition.