Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has issued a pressing call for additional resources to address the escalating issue of firearms in the possession of individuals whose Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) cards have been revoked. Despite the revocation of over 27,000 FOID cards in Cook County, many individuals have not complied with the legal requirement to surrender their firearms, posing significant public safety concerns.
The Scope of the Problem
The Sheriff’s Office reports that among those who have not surrendered their firearms are 1,863 individuals deemed a “clear and present danger,” 5,368 with serious mental health concerns, and 5,574 with orders of protection against them. This non-compliance contributes to the broader issue of gun violence in the community, with potentially thousands of illegal firearms remaining in circulation.
Current Efforts and Limitations
The Sheriff’s Police Gun Suppression Team, established in 2013, has made significant strides, recovering over 1,000 firearms and handling more than 7,100 cases. However, Sheriff Dart emphasizes that these efforts are hampered by insufficient state funding. The state currently allocates about $2 million annually for FOID revocation enforcement, which Dart argues is woefully inadequate. He estimates that between $8 million and $10 million annually is needed to effectively manage the retrieval of firearms from individuals with revoked FOID cards (WTTW News) (Cook County Sheriff’s Office) (Cook County Sheriff’s Office).
Legislative and Community Action
In addition to calling for increased funding, Sheriff Dart advocates for closing legislative loopholes that allow individuals with revoked FOID cards to purchase ammunition. This measure, he argues, is critical to preventing further gun violence. Dart is urging lawmakers to require the same level of scrutiny for ammunition sales as for firearm sales, which currently is not the case (Cook County Sheriff’s Office).
The Call to Action
Sheriff Dart’s appeal underscores the need for a comprehensive approach involving both increased funding and legislative reform. He has called on more police agencies to dedicate resources to this “time-consuming and potentially dangerous work” of retrieving firearms from non-compliant individuals. The Sheriff’s Office continues to push for legislative action and increased funding during state budget discussions, aiming to make significant strides in reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety in Cook County.