IL FOID holders the most background checked people in the nation

(The Center Square) – Illinois is on pace to lead the nation again this year for the number of firearm background checks and one legal expert expects the numbers will only increase.

FBI National Instant Criminal System firearm background check data by state shows Illinois leading the nation with nearly 4 million firearm background checks through November. That’s more than 300,000 more than second place Kentucky at 3.6 million checks.

For years, Illinois has led the country in checks, mainly because of the additional checks conducted through the state’s Firearm Owner’s Identification Card system.

U.S. Law Shield President Kirk Evans said while the number of checks doesn’t necessarily equate to the number of guns being purchased, people buy more guns when there’s uncertainty.

“It’s usually during overall periods of uncertainty, so during COVID, the George Floyd riots,” Evans told The Center Square.