url]http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/862569F9005CA6AA86256AB1007695EB?OpenDocument&Headline=Firearms%20ID%20card%20crackdown%20aimed%20at%20keeping%20guns%20from%20criminals[/url]

Firearms ID card crackdown aimed at keeping guns from
criminals
By John O'Connor
Associated Press Writer

08/23/2001 04:54 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A new gun-control law takes
aim at fraudulent firearm permits and felons who
shouldn't have access to guns.

But for gun-control proponents, that's the lone bright
spot to emerge from the past legislative session.

The law Gov. George Ryan signed last week requires that
guns and Firearm Owners' Identification cards be turned
in when people are convicted of felonies. It also makes
FOID cards look more like driver's licenses and more
tamper-resistant.

The measure, pushed by Attorney General Jim Ryan, was
prompted by the shooting at a Melrose Park Navistar
plant in February. Former employee William D. Baker
killed four people and himself with weapons he should
have turned over to state police after an earlier
conviction.

Joe Tartaro, president of the pro-gun education group
Second Amendment Foundation, said the law closes a gap
in enforcement.

``When a person who has been issued a card in the past
is arrested ... there has been no follow-up through the
state police to check whether the arrestee had such a
card,'' Tartaro said.

The bill was the only significant gun-control proposal
to survive the General Assembly, largely because it had
the support of the National Rifle Association. Another
new law makes it illegal to forge FOID cards.

But more sweeping measures backed by Chicago Democrats
Mayor Richard Daley and Senate Minority Leader Emil
Jones failed to win passage.

They would have done such things as more closely
scrutinizing gun sales, limiting the number of guns a
person could buy, forcing people to list their guns with
the state and banning assault-type weapons.

Rep. Tom Dart, chairman of a House judiciary committee
and a candidate for state treasurer, said he might
change his focus from the more far-reaching proposals
and focus on strengthening existing laws.

Thank goodness Daley and his cronies didnt get their way!! Sounds like you folks in Il really have to fight for your second amendment rights from your state. Best of luck, keep up the great work!!