Gun owners in Illinois to carry $1 million insurance policy?

[Bman505]

February 20, 10:53 AM
by Martha R Gore, Watchdog Politics Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/x-2547-Watchdog-Politics-Examiner)
A new gun law has been proposed by Illinois State Representative Kenneth Dunkin (D-5th District) that would required that gun owners carry insurance of $1 million. It also makes gun owners liable for misues of their guns until the gun is reported stolen to police, and provide revocation of FOID cards for those who do not carry that insurance.

Under Illinois state law, gun buyers must obtain a license (FOID card) prior to the purchase of a firearm. A FOID card:

Is required of anyone owning a firearm.
Involves a basic background check
No safety checks or fingerprints are required
Is valid for five years.
Does not automatically check or revoke the cards from people who are convicted or otherwise fall into a prohibited class after obtain the card.
The proposed law (Illinois HB0687) is now making its way through the Illinois House of Representative.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that any person who owns a firearm in this State shall maintain a policy of liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person. Provides that a person shall be deemed the owner of a firearm after the firearm is lost or stolen until such loss or theft is reported to the police department or sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the owner resides. Provides that the Department of State Police shall revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under this Act if the Department finds that the person to whom such card was issued possesses or acquires a firearm and does not submit evidence to the Department of State Police that he or she has been issued in his or her name a liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful.


It is being opposed by gun owners and endorsed by gun control advocates.

[tblt44]

I was thinking about looking into insurance just in caes I ever was involved in a SD situation.This might not be a bad idea.

[MrReady]

Not a bad idea, but it should be a choice. Forcing people to carry insurance of a million bucks isn't cool. I have car and homeowners insurance but I dont have kitchen knife insurance incase someone breaks into my house and I stab them. Like I said ,not bad but it has to be a choice not a law.

[DrakeS]

guys i have to disagree with you on this one, (that it is not a bad idea).
imo it is a horriable idea
you will be letting insurance companys who no nothing about firearms insure you.

example of how this may play out:
i was insured through aaa for motorcycle insurance,
pa passes a law that i now have a choice to not wear a helmet when riding my motorcycle, be it my choice do so if i choose to wear one or not
no come to find out that same insurance company aaa is using my money to repeal this law because it requres them to pay more if i am in a accident for say head injuries.
so i ask, is this what you want ?
the possability of any insurance company using your money against you fighting to take away your right to bear arms? because if you kill someone it will cost them a lot of money.

look at how things are playing out now, a officer shoots someone, even tho he has the authority to defend himself and to protect us, in most if not all these cases criminals or the family sue the city and the officer for excessive force.
and in most cases these insurance companys pay out something.
believe me the city does not pay.

ill stop for now
forgive my spelling and grammer
DAve

[Bman505]

The insurance is to cover your legal expenses not your injuries. All it is, is prepaid legal services. I don't agree with everything they are saying. I do believe it is a good idea to carry some sort of insurance or prepaid legal services though.

[Jizzle]

or how about they just pass the dang self defense bill and we call it a day.

[PPK]

As an Illinois resident I guarantee it's a bad idea. No insurance company offers that kind of insurance. I have a $1,000,000 umbrella policy that might work but no one knows for sure. It's just another way for the Chicago political machine to attack our gun rights. Supposedly, it's to help cover medical costs for someone getting shot. How many gang members or drug dealers do you think would buy this insurance if it was available?

BTW the FOID card is now good for 10 years. My 11 year old grandson just got his. When he turns 21 and ready to buy his first handgun his FOID card will have a picture of an 11 year old on it.