To address the massive backlog of the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card process on the Illinois State Police firearms safety system, Illinois lawmakers passed a bill that will potentially alleviate the backlog by automatically renewing FOID cards. On Monday, the Illinois Senate passed Sen. Dave Koehler’s bill, HB 562, in the Senate in a 40-17 vote. The legislation will require further background checks for potential gun owners. In addition, people who own firearms lawfully can apply for an FOID card that automatically renews if they voluntarily submit their fingerprints. The bill also condenses FOID cards and concealed carry licenses into one document and establishes a portal that includes reports of people whose FOID cards have been revoked or suspended, which can be accessed by law enforcement officials. “One of the biggest obstacles we face with the FOID system is the enormous backlog of applications,” said Koehler. “There has to be a …