Illinois State Police's efforts to protect communities from gun violence

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. ��The Illinois State Police (ISP) is working to stop gun-related tragedies by keeping guns away from people who could hurt themselves or others.

The work is making a difference ��in the last year,��gun safety laws were made stronger in Illinois and more training was given to police and schools about how to use these safety laws.

“W�� are united in our commitment to preventing gun related tragedies in Illinois,�� said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m thankful for the Illinois State Police’s diligent efforts to train law enforcement agencies, school administrators, and medical professionals about the importance of reporting individuals who pose a threat of gun violence and how to do so. Every neighborhood and every home deserves to be free from gun violence, and the State of Illinois will continue to make significant investments in public safety and violence reduction.��

“W��can stop��potential tragedies when��law enforcement, school administrators, and medical professionals file��Clear and Present Danger reports,�� said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.��“Continued��vigilance, identification of dangerous individuals, and hands on work by state and local police can save lives.��

reports are submitted by law enforcement agencies, school administrators, and medical professionals to ISP when a person poses a serious threat to themselves or others.

From there, the ISP Office of Firearms Safety (OFS) then examines the Clear and Present Danger report and makes a determination on the person's Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) Card status or application.

The OFS's mission is to intercept threats submitted by law enforcement and help in stopping gun violence before it happens.

By using a web-based portal launched by ISP earlier this year, Clear and Present Danger reports can be both easily submitted and quickly reviewed.

From January 1 through September 30, 2023, ISP has received a total of 10,144 Clear and Present Danger reports from law enforcement, school administrators, and medical professionals.

These reports then resulted in 4,212 FOID revocations or application denials.

Of the 10,144 reports submitted, 4,912 people did not have a FOID card or application pending.

Every day, ISP reviews about 30 Clear and Present Danger reports statewide and works with local police to ensure that those voided cardholders no longer have access to firearms.��

Two examples are listed below of Clear and Present Danger reports where threats were intercepted and gun violence prevented:

A student who was accused of cheating in class threatened to shoot and kill his classmates. He sent an email to his family saying he wanted to shoot his classmates, and he was found to have used a school computer to research AR rifles. Based on a safety assessment, the school principal filed a Clear and Present Danger report with the Illinois State Police. The student did not have a gun license at the time, but the police said that if he applies for one in the future, his threat will be considered. Law enforcement also worked with the student's family to remove a gun from their home, and the student is getting treatment for his mental health issues.
A mother reported to a northern Illinois police department that her son was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts that has worsened over a few weeks. The thoughts built up until he threatened to kill himself and his grandparents by "putting a bullet in their heads." The mother told police that her son had recently bough a gun and she was worried her was going to shoot himself and/or his grandparents. The local police department then submitted a Clear and Present Danger report to ISP. ISP then confirmed that it met the statutory requirements and revoked the son's FOID card. ISP then contacted the gun shop, which confirmed that the son had just picked up his newly-purchased firearm and ammunition earlier that same day. ISP was able to alert the local police department who found the son during a traffic stop and recovered the firearm and ammunition from his car before he could hurt himself and others.