OF cops, family squabble over returning guns :: The SouthtownStar

I'm not sure where to go with this one...

If my husband was mentally ill, and we handed the guns over to the police so he couldn't get his hands on them and harm the family, would I want them back in the house? I can't say I would.

Is anyone ever 'completely' cured from a mental illness? If he has to take medication to control whatever is wrong with him, who's to say he will take it religiously?

I agree with the police in this case and I agree with their position.

If this case could set a legal precedent in Illinois, I would think that a lawyer would want to take this case pro bono (sp) just for the exposure.

I always thought that in order to have guns legally in one's home, you would need an FOID card from the state to purchase said guns.

I also always thought the State Police did back ground checks on people asking for a gun card. If he was in the system as a mentaly challenged person, I'm sure there would be a red flag somewhere.

In any case I agree with the P.D. on this one also.

ProChat, I'm not sure, but I don't think he was in the system as a mentally challenged person at the time he purchased the guns. It was only after that he began having the problem.

My understanding is that the wife is getting or got an FOID card and is asking that the gubs be returned to her.
I would think the reason she wants the guns returned is due to pressure from her husband. I personally hope O.F. does not return them and fights this. Maybe O.F. should send them to the incinerator and tell the family that they were destroyed in error.Or send them in for ballistic test to see if they were ever used in a crime. You never know.

I truly feel it would be a bad idea returning any type of weapons to a home that has any mentally challenged people living in it. If not for the folks who live with them, but for the neighbors who live close by.

The only way I could see this happening is if the weapons were in a gun safe and each pistol or rifle... etc, had trigger locks and the keys were hidden well out of the challenged persons eyes.

http://www.southtownstar.com/neighborhoodstar...

Looks like this matter has been resolved. The owners have sold the guns to Freddy Bear Sports.

This man came to a City Council Meeting & spoke at Citizen Participation. I met & spoke with him afterwards. He had battled depression due to stress & losing his job. His FOID card had been revoked when he was institutionalized , therefore preventing him from getting the guns back. Oak Forest sent this family a letter that they were having the guns destroyed in 30 days of the letter. That is wrong. He gifted the guns to his wife, that has a valid FOID card. The purpose of getting the guns back is to sell them, not to keep them. This family is very broke with the loss of work, which I'm sure this adds to their stress again. The wife can legally own a gun, & if she is willingly taking the responsibility of taking them to sell them, who is breaking any law. Glad to see Freddy Bear Sports bought the guns & that the matter has been resolved. Good luck to this family.

they don't deserve the gun back