Plan ensures mentally ill do not have access to firearms

SPRINGFIELD – A plan by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) ensuring individuals with mental illness do not have access to firearms passed out of the Senate late last week.

“Individuals struggling with mental illness should in no way have access to firearms,” Morrison said. “Guarding against guns getting in the wrong hands is as important for the safety of the general public as it is for the safety of the individual with mental illness.”

Currently, Illinois law requires circuit court clerks to relay information to the Illinois State Police when a person passes through the court system and is deemed to have a mental disability or is involuntarily committed to a mental institution. The information is used to ensure FOID cards, which are required to legally own a firearm in Illinois, are not administered.

Morrison’s proposal, contained in Senate Bill 2213, would ensure the state police are receiving information from every Illinois county by requiring circuit court clerks to report bi-annually if no person has been adjudicated as a person with a mental disability or if no person has been involuntarily admitted.

“While Illinois’ mental health reporting laws are strong, we must ensure the process is actually working to protect the public’s safety,” Morrison said.

Senate Bill 2213 passed the Senate without opposition on Friday and heads to the Illinois House for further debate.