House Bill 3139 could be seen as weakening the state’s power, but also might be the best move for long-term strength.

The plan, according to Dominic Genetti in a recent Alton Telegraph story , would change state law to make Firearm Owner Identification and Concealed Carry Licenses permanent by default. Republican state Rep. Tom Weber, of Lake Villa, introduced the plan in February. It’s since idled in the Rules Committee, but garnered fresh attention when state Rep. Michael Coffey Jr. of Springfield signed as a co-sponsor Oct. 20.

Under current law, FOID cardholders must renew every decade while CCA licensees have to re-up every five. And since at least October 2020, those renewals have caused enough administrative headaches for the state that the attorney general’s office keeps findi

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