© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mental Health Restrictions Tougher Under Concealed Carry

Susan Stephens
/
WNIJ

The state of Illinois has taken another step toward regulating who may get a concealed-carry permit. The Department of Human Services has created an on-line database for mental health professionals to report people who pose a “clear and present danger” to themselves or others.

Names in the Illinois FOID Mental Health Reporting System will be checked against a list of people qualified to own a gun. The Illinois State Police will investigate when there’s a match.

What’s new under the state’s concealed-carry law, according to Human Services Secretary Michelle R. B. Saddler, is a wider group of mental health professionals who must report information and what kind of information must be shared. Saddler is trying to spread the word to agencies and individuals about the new requirements.

The Illinois Department of Human Services maintains the Illinois FOID Mental Health Reporting database of people falling into four categories:

  • Declared in court to be mentally disabled.
  • Admitted to an inpatient mental health facility within the last five years.
  • Determined to be a “clear and present danger” to themselves or others.
  • Determined to be developmentally disabled.

Mandatory reporters for the system are clinicians, mental health facilities, and “qualified examiners.” Qualified examiners could be social workers, registered nurses, clinical professional counselors, or specially-trained marriage and family counselors. 

Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.
Related Stories