Chicago Strikes Down Gun Registry

More firearms legislation out of Illinois follows the recent trend of decreasing firearms restriction. After Illinois lifted its handgun prohibition in 2010 and passed its concealed carry bill in July of this year, Chicago recently voted to strike down its 45-year-old gun registry.

Last week, the city council of Chicago voted not only to do away with their gun registry, but also to eliminate their firearms ownership permit requirements. Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel voiced his disapproval after the council announced their decision saying, “I happen to think the court’s wrong. I think their interpretation is wrong.”

Prior to this decision, Chicago required its citizens, to first obtain their FOID (Firearms Owner’s IDentification) card, and then take a five hour Chicago Firearms Permit course, pass a background check, and pay a $100 fee to apply for their permit. Once this permit was obtained, any firearms that permit-holding Chicago residents acquired must then be recorded in a city-wide gun registry.

When the council’s decision goes into effect, Chicago citizens will still need a FOID card to obtain firearms, and must wait 72 hours before picking up a purchased handgun, and 24 hours before picking up a purchased long gun (shotgun or rifle). But, the abolition of the gun registry and the Chicago firearms ownership permit marks a change in restrictive legislation that has been in place for 45 years.