Metro East Sun

Republican state Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) is taking a stand for legal gun owners across Illinois.

"My House Bill 1892 seeks to repeal the requirement that Illinois gun owners pay a fee and get an ID card from the state before they exercise their constitutional rights to own a firearm," Elik told the Metro East Sun. "My bill is necessary because gun owners in Illinois are subject to administrative burdens and lengthy delays in the system that becomes a hindrance to their constitutional right."

In keeping with a promise she made while a candidate in the 111th District, Elik's bill seeks to repeal the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card Act and legislation, which enacts concealed-carry licensing fees. Illinois is one of four states requiring legal gun owners to pay a fee to own a firearm.

"Federal gun laws are still in place, so background checks and waiting periods are still occurring," Elik said. "Illinois' FOID system is duplicative and unnecessary."

Elik said she sees the FOID system as just another hurdle placed in the path of law-abiding gun owners.

"Since I first took office, my office has received dozens of calls from constituents that are still waiting to receive their FOID," she said in a post to her website. "As of today, thousands are waiting to receive their firearm identification throughout the state."

Elik said she grows more concerned that the fees are another undue burden used to target legal owners each day.

"The concealed-carry license fees are excessive in my opinion, and like the FOID system, has extremely burdensome delays that keep law-abiding gun owners from exercising their Second Amendment rights," she said.