We’re getting all sorts of people asking us about fingerprints for the Illinois CCW license.
Are they going to be required? Are they not? The statute itself says, “the Department may accept an application submitted without a set of fingerprints in which case the Department shall be granted 30 days in addition to the 90 days provided under subsection (e) of Section 10 of this Act to issue or deny a license”.
The discussion of this, for some folks over at the online forum Illinois Carry, has turned this question into something more than a simple answer.
“Molly B.”, the spokeswoman for Illinois Carry.com, otherwise known as Valinda Rowe, posted the following on December 6th.
We have confirmed and reconfirmed with the ISP that fingerprints are NOT mandatory for concealed carry applicants. Some individuals and groups continue to misinform the public about this. The current law states that prints are optional. Unless and until the law is changed they shall remain optional.
The same individuals are claiming the ISP will accept inked prints but at this point the ISP says they will only accept digital prints. If that changes we will post it here.
We believe she’s writing about Guns Save Life leadership and the organization when she says “some individuals and groups”.
We relayed our latest and best information at the Peoria (and Effingham) members meetings last Thursday – and the Pontiac meeting Tuesday. Our information, confirmed and reconfirmed (with someone else at the ISP apparently) is something different.
Our best information is that:
1. The Illinois State Police *is* going to *require* fingerprints with license applications.
2. LiveScan electronic prints will be preferred, but hard-card prints will be accepted – and the ISP will allow themselves 30 additional days to process apps with hard-card prints.
3. Applications submitted without prints will not be accepted.
What is our source?
It’s an attorney and ISP-approved instructor who read over the statute and ISP proposed rule-making, and then contacted the Illinois State Police and spoke with someone there that he was convinced was in a position of authority.
UPDATE: Here’s our attorney’s thoughts on this, relayed within the past few minutes:
Well, they can submit applications for a CC Permit without fingerprints and see what happens. All I know is that ISP told me directly that no permits would be issued without fingerprints and the revised regulations they issued confirm that position. I think that [some] folks desperately want to get by without FP but it is an empty hope. Public Act 98-63 does seem to say that applications may be issued w/o FP but otherwise constructs an approval process that is very thorough and totally laced with cross agency checks. The clear intention of the Act is for applicants to submit prints which can be checked against the state and federal database. If someone wants a CC Permit in the near future, I recommend submitting their prints in electronic format and include the required photo in digital form with the prints.
It’s our best information and we passed it on – as our best information. We’ll be the first to say we might be wrong. It’s happened before. On the whole though, we endeavor to provide the best and most accurate information to gun owners that we can, and it’s usually pretty good. It’s just one reason why our paid membership has doubled this past year and our group is growing by leaps and bounds.
You can weigh your analysis of the data and come to your own conclusions. Heck, both of our sources may be “correct” as frankly, we’re not sure the ISP knows what in the heck they are going to do with this. It’s been a mess from day one this past summer.
As far as communication between GSL’s President and Illinois Carry’s Spokeswoman: it’s non-existent as she won’t return emails and won’t answer or return phone calls.
It’s interesting that the latest round of ISP proposed rule-making:
Section 1231.61 Issuance of License
Applicants submitting fingerprints shall do so electronically by submitting a full set of fingerprints to the Department in an electronic format using a Live Scan vendor licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or a law enforcement agency registered by the Department. Manual fingerprints will not be accepted.
Oh yeah, Guns Save Life doesn’t just blog. We have meetings with hundreds of real people attending every month. We publish a monthly journal with a circulation of 20,000 each month. We erect and maintain nearly three dozen sets of highway signs, communicating a pro-gun message to over 600,000 people each day. We’re in the Illinois State Capitol building almost everyday. We’re like rust… we’re persistent and we don’t go away.
We make things happen for the pro-gun side, not only at the state and local level, but nationally as well.
Thanks for reading.
If I may be so blunt: I’d feel a lot better if the major gun rights organizations had an open line of communications amongst themselves.
One of the great things we have (“we” meaning Illinois Gun Owners) is several major organizations going to bat for all of us (i.e. GSL, Illinoiscarry, ISRA, Etc.). I am thankful for everything that they do. That being said, the last thing we need is organizations getting butt hurt due with each other do to the fact that the ISP cannot handle anything professionally, timely, and without trying to change or twist the law as written to their liking. It’s what we have to deal with by living here in Illinois.
John,
We need to remain united together brother. Molly and yourself need to be on the same page of the play book. I’m not placing blame, I’m just saying that the enemy (The Anti’s) will benefit from our two major organizations not talking with each other.
I hope everything gets patched up.
Communication has to go both ways or it’s not much good.
Amen, brother. And right now, it’s a one-way street.
Almost a she-said they said deal, no?
Why can’t ANYONE just tell the TRUTH anymore???? Grrrrr
And I do NOT mean John or GSL…..I mean the ISP and so forth!!!!
Sorry, John & leaders if I offended any of you – even for a nano-second!!!! ;o(
Not at ALL intended toward you!!! Color me frustrated with Springfield & DC…..!!!!
I have been in contact with Informative Screening Solutions
in Elmhurst, Illinois (800-398-3679). They are waiting for
ISP to give them the rules (electronic finger prints).
I was told to call back in 2 weeks. Even the people
authorized to print you don’t know what the procedure is yet
“Heck, both of our sources may be “correct” as frankly, we’re not sure the ISP knows what in the heck they are going to do with this. It’s been a mess from day one this past summer.”
That’s the nail on the head right there – look at this and the ’12 hour curriculum’ disaster
who’s running the asylum down there?
I missed the 12 hour curriculum disaster. Short version?
I am a supervisor/manager at the largest private owned gun store in Illinois, GAT Guns in East Dundee Illinois. We have had representatives from the State Police in our store, and our CCW Classes are being taught by Dupage County Sheriffs and I can assure you that fingerprints in the electronic format are preferred. Fingerprints none the less are “Required”. Now the State Police will not be ready to receive the prints electronically until January 5th or 10th. This is the information our store has received, first hand, in writing, and in email format. This is the information we are going on and are informing our customers with. I hope this helps any one who is interested. Thank you. Todd Koscielak
I have taken the required 8 hours (I am a Veteran) course and have my certificate. I paid gat @200 which I thought was the total cost of getting my cc permit.
I am now getting the idea that I will need a digital picture and electronic fingerprints to complete my application. I also do not know if I have to fill out additional forms, nor where to get them.
As I already have the right to have and bear arms without infringement I think that some of the procedure to carry is just the states and cities infringing and breaking the rules of the constitution.
As a favor to the state I got a foid card with my picture and I guess my background has been checked and has been found to be OK.
I have also learned that I would not be allowed to carry on public transportation. This is infringement. If I walk to the train, armed as allowed, what do I do with my gun when I get on the train. Such a rule makes no sense at all. (I would have to have a friend drive in a car to the train station in Chicago with my gun, to give it to me, so I again could be armed outside of the train.
This is totally nuts. God save us from our government and the thieves who will have guns on the train.
I am so confused about what I am supposed to do to finish my application. Do I go back to GAT to finish. Will there be an added cost or tax I should be prepared to pay. Please call me, help me, and tell me what I am suppose to do.
Thank you
Sincerely,
Mr. Lynn T. Austrheim 847 707 7877