Illinois gun shops are bracing for disruption as the Illinois State Police (ISP) prepares to take down its Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) verification system for maintenance. The planned outage, set from 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, through 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, will prevent retailers from validating FOID cards — effectively halting all legal ammunition and firearm sales during that time.
Dan Eldridge, owner of Maxon Shooter’s Supplies and Indoor Range, sounded the alarm after discovering the maintenance schedule while attempting to validate customer FOID cards. “We will be unable to sell ammunition,” Eldridge said. “We also can’t verify eligibility on a firearm sale.”
The FOID system is required by law in Illinois, one of only four states that mandates a firearms ID card to purchase or own guns and ammunition. Critics like Eldridge argue that the system not only infringes on constitutional rights but also creates bottlenecks that obstruct lawful transactions.
“This just further undermines the case for continuing with the FOID card,” Eldridge added, questioning the necessity of a program that can shut down lawful commerce for over 24 hours.
The Illinois State Police have stated the outage is due to a “software upgrade,” but Eldridge expressed skepticism about the timeline and reliability. “I’m nervous about the system coming back to life after they’re done with it,” he said.
Legal challenges against the FOID law are ongoing in both state and federal courts. Opponents argue the requirement creates unnecessary delays and violates Second Amendment protections.
The outage means Illinois residents will temporarily lose access to constitutionally protected purchases, highlighting deeper concerns among gun owners and dealers over the FOID system’s effectiveness and impact on rights.
