Concealed-carry costs
Updated: March 5, 2013
SPRINGFIELD -- The state police are putting a price tag on concealed-carry. The agency estimates it would cost $25 million to get a secure permit system in place.
A fiscal note attached to the bill spells out the millions of dollars the state police say they need to improve a computer system and hire more staff. Some advocates think these costs don't add up.
"A FOID card is the predicate towards legal possession and the first step towards obtaining a concealed carry permit. In addition, we need to make sure the FOID system is running effectively and efficiently," NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde said.
Police say they need about $1.4 million. $6 million would help build a database for concealed-carry permits. The aging state police computer system, Leads, also needs $10 million. In addition, state police say they need $25 million to make concealed-carry a reality.
"We think they're padding the numbers on what the true cost of implementing a carry permit system is," Vanderymde said.
He says the state police is trying to pass the cost onto gun owners.
"We'll pay for the administrative costs to operate a fair system. We think that piling on these costs for a new computer system that's antiquated to no fault of the gun owners of this state...it's not our job to pay for that...the state should be taking care of its own," Vanderymde said.
Still state police say the computer system is necessary for guns to not wind up in the wrong hands.
"Many of our systems will interact with each other as far as LEADS being the mechanism to deliver this information and disseminate this information to law enforcement state wide," Illinois State Police Lt. Darrin Clark said.
A bill currently on the table charges $80 dollars for a concealed-carry permit. In the Fiscal Note, state police estimate 400,000 people will apply for a permit in the first year. It would generate $32 million in new revenue.
Five of the $80 would go to the Department of Human Services. It would help keep track of people will mental health issues, so they are unable to get a gun.
A fiscal note attached to the bill spells out the millions of dollars the state police say they need to improve a computer system and hire more staff. Some advocates think these costs don't add up.
"A FOID card is the predicate towards legal possession and the first step towards obtaining a concealed carry permit. In addition, we need to make sure the FOID system is running effectively and efficiently," NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde said.
Police say they need about $1.4 million. $6 million would help build a database for concealed-carry permits. The aging state police computer system, Leads, also needs $10 million. In addition, state police say they need $25 million to make concealed-carry a reality.
"We think they're padding the numbers on what the true cost of implementing a carry permit system is," Vanderymde said.
He says the state police is trying to pass the cost onto gun owners.
"We'll pay for the administrative costs to operate a fair system. We think that piling on these costs for a new computer system that's antiquated to no fault of the gun owners of this state...it's not our job to pay for that...the state should be taking care of its own," Vanderymde said.
Still state police say the computer system is necessary for guns to not wind up in the wrong hands.
"Many of our systems will interact with each other as far as LEADS being the mechanism to deliver this information and disseminate this information to law enforcement state wide," Illinois State Police Lt. Darrin Clark said.
A bill currently on the table charges $80 dollars for a concealed-carry permit. In the Fiscal Note, state police estimate 400,000 people will apply for a permit in the first year. It would generate $32 million in new revenue.
Five of the $80 would go to the Department of Human Services. It would help keep track of people will mental health issues, so they are unable to get a gun.
