Gun control efforts in Cook County have hit a snag as Sheriff Tom Dart revealed a concerning number of firearms still in the hands of individuals with revoked Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) cards. A compiled report indicates that approximately 68% of more than 39,000 locals with revoked FOID cards, namely around 27,000 individuals, have failed to surrender their firearms or return the cards, a legal requirement following revocation, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Illinois' issue stretches beyond Cook County with state police data revealing a steep 74% or roughly 84,000 of about 112,000 revoked cardholders statewide not in compliance, their whereabouts and possession of potentially lethal firearms, just a shrug in the dark for law enforcement. From April last year to February 2024, the backlog of cardholders failing to comply surged, now topping over a thousand in just four months according to the sheriff's office's crunching of the numbers.

Grounds for revocation cover severe territory, including individuals with felony convictions, documented mental health issues, and those subject to restraining orders. In 2013, Dart's initiative to establish a proactive Gun Team to confiscate firearms and FOID cards appeared to bear fruit—eradicating backlog in certain jurisdictions and recovering over 1,300 guns and 4,050 cardholders' FOID cards, the Sheriff's Office detailed.

However, the success story is not replicated across various cities and towns, many of which stand overwhelmed by the cascade of revocations, without adequate staff to handle the high-stake situation—unless state funds are injected, towns across Illinois are far behind in the ability to keep a tab on FOID compliance. Dart has issued a public plea for legislative action, endorsing HB 5442, aimed at increasing the Firearm Transfer Inquiry Program fee to bolster Illinois State Police's background check mechanisms and afford approximately $1.44 million extra in funding for these critical enforcement measures.