Petition Calling On Attorney General Madigan To Reverse Her Demands To Release Private Information Of Illinois Gun Owners

Please sign the petition urging Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to reverse her demand that the state police release the private information of all Illinois gun owners.

The Associated Press (AP) recently submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request demanding to know the names of all FOID card-holders in Illinois. Illinois law dictates that before a citizen can purchase a firearm, they must first receive permission from the state police by way of a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.

The Illinois State Police have denied the AP's request, and have been vigilant in protecting gun owner's privacy thus far. The state police are charged with safeguarding the private information of FOID card holders in the state, and they are barred by law from releasing any information under FOIA requests "that might endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement personnel or any other person."

Making the list of gun owners in Illinois public information would endanger lives. Criminals would not only have complete knowledge of which homes they can safely break into without having to fear facing an armed homeowner, but they would also know which houses to burglarize when searching for guns to carry out more crimes. The criminal would merely have to watch your home and wait for you to leave.

Releasing the names of gun owners would also open them up to persecution by those who despise the Second Amendment.

AG Madigan has dismissed the argument made by the State Police as worthless and has ordered them to comply with the FOIA request.

Miss Madigan appears to believe that FOIA laws were enacted so private citizens could spy on private citizens. To the contrary, FOIA laws were established so private citizens could easily access information regarding government activities and spending.

Please sign the petition and tell Attorney General Madigan to protect the privacy of Illinois citizens. Tell her to reverse her decision to demand that the Illinois State Police release the names of Illinois gun owners.

Whereas: The Illinois Attorney General is charged with protecting the rights of Illinois citizens, and

Whereas: Releasing the names and personal information of law-abiding gun owners to the public violates the Constitutionally protected right to privacy, and

Whereas: Releasing the names and personal information of law-abiding citizens will endanger lives, and

Whereas: FOIA laws were established so Illinois government would be transparent to it's citizens and not for the purpose of revealing the private information of law-abiding citizens:

Therefore, be it resolved that we, the undersigned urge you, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, to protect the privacy of Illinois citizens according to the duties of your office, and reverse your decision to force the Illinois State Police to release the names of Illinois gun owners.