Police say the man who opened fire in the gun-free Henry Pratt Company facility in Aurora, Illinois, had his Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card revoked and possessed his gun illegally.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “[Gary] Martin was issued an Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification Card in January 2014. Two months later, he purchased a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber handgun from an Aurora dealer.” He was issued the FOID card despite the fact that he had a felony conviction in Mississippi in 1995.
Martin later applied for a concealed carry license and his felony conviction was discovered during the background work for the license. At that point, when his felony was discovered, his application was denied and his FOID card was voided.
Police are now trying to ascertain how Martin was able to retain the pistol through the process.
AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. Sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.