Some local gun dealers have been confused about the shift in FOID card expiration dates. The Illinois State Police decided this year to not print expiration dates on the new FOID cards, which can also now double as a Concealed Carry License. Th ISP now has a public portal available to check the status of these FOID cards.
A lot of times a FOID is used in the state of Illinois for more than just purchasing a firearm. Gun dealers are required to check a FOID’s validity when someone purchases ammunition. The FOID Act does not require a range facility to verify the status of a FOID card without an expiration date.
The FOID not having the expiration gives gun dealers an extra step. Background checks are conducted when someone purchases a firearm, so there’s no added step, but ammunition sales do not require a background check…so now gun dealers have to use a portal.
“A background check is not conducted when purchasing ammunition. A store that sells ammunition will be required to check the status of a FOID card that does not have an expiration date printed on the face, either valid or not valid, on a website provided by the ISP. The ammunition/person to person portal is currently available,” said Josh Korando, Illinois State Police Public Information Officer.
The web portal provided by the ISP is free of charge and is publicly accessible.
“There have been no changes implemented for the process of purchasing firearms,” said Korando. “The verification process for FOID cards without an expiration date using the ISP web portal related to purchasing ammunition is the only change. Keep in mind this will only effect new cards issued after Jan. 1, 2022, all other cards printed prior to Jan. 1, 2022 will have expiration dates printed on the face of the card.”