Firearms use in domestic abuse a rarity in Randolph County

One area of the national gun rights debate has drawn rare bipartisan support - the need to limit the acquisition or possession of firearms by domestic abusers.

More than a dozen states in the past two years have strengthened laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of such offenders. But that battle hasn't come to Randolph County, yet.

"We just don't see very many," said Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff. "We do handle quite a few domestics, we just don't see a lot that involve firearms."

Illinois law requires a person to have a Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card to legally purchase or possess firearms or ammunition.

A FOID card applicant - or holder of a previously-issued FOID card - will be denied their application, or have his or her card revoked and seized, if they have ever been convicted of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery in Illinois or a similar offense in a different jurisdiction.

"I can speak locally that whenever someone is convicted of such an offense, that information is forwarded on to the Illinois State Police for a FOID card check," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "We make that clear at the time of plea or finding of guilt and advise them that they will not be able to (possess firearms).

"If there was specifically a firearm used or not used (in the crime), it doesn't affect the prohibition that they never carry a firearm again."

According to an Associated Press analysis of FBI and Florida homicide data from 2006 through 2014, current wives and girlfriends comprised nearly 75 percent of all victims in fatal domestic shootings.

In both the FBI and Florida data - which is tracked separately by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement - women were the victims in four out of every five incidents of fatal domestic battery.

Illinois was reported to have 38 total firearm-related domestic homicides statewide in 2014, twenty-six of which were either the wife or girlfriend of the offender.

"It happens very, very rarely in Randolph County," Walker said. "I can't even remember the last time (a firearm) was brandished in the commission of a domestic dispute. We're very, very lucky not to have that type of offense."

In Illinois, only the Chicago and Rockford police department's report data to the FBI and even that data is considered an undercount.

The Associated Press noted that during research, some cases were reported as homicide but did not specify whether a firearm was involved or if it involved significant others.

Those cases were not counted in the data and in other situations, individual agencies did not report their numbers to the FBI.

"Data for criminal histories goes through the Illinois State Police," Walker said. "I know for a fact that they've beefed up on this since the concealed carry stuff has gone through."

Lt. Jay Hall, with the Illinois State Police Zone 7 Investigations division, could not be reached for comment prior to the Herald Tribune's press deadline.

Walker seemed to indicate that an offender's prior behavior could also play a part in incidents, as well as a disregard for state law.

"Bad people usually break the law and they don't care if they have the right to have a firearm or not," he said.