IL: Amish Required To Have Photo On FOID Card To Own Guns, Violating Religious Edict

[RamboLiberal]

A change in state police policy could create problems for Amish gun-owners in Illinois, as a rule requiring photos to be on gun-owner ID cards will soon be applied to their community.

As the blog Amish America writes Monday, many Amish people use guns to hunt deer and other game, and to disperse "varmints."

The Amish are also known for being uncomfortable with photography, especially posed photography, which they believe leads to idolatrous vanity, according to AmishNews.com. So now-departed Illinois State Police director Jonathan Monken's decision requiring the Amish to have a photo on their new Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards could put Amish hunters in a bind.

"A lot of the Amish hunt and they usually use squirrel or rabbit rifles to bring some food back home," Douglas County Sheriff Charles McGrew told the Mattoon Journal-Gazette. Douglas County is the center of Illinois's Amish population. "Their big concern is this means they won't be able to purchase guns or ammo."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/amish-photo-foid-guns-illinois_n_835407.html

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. They will adapt

eom

[derby378]

2. We could get rid of the FOID...

Problem solved. Winning.

[virgogal]

3. Many wealthy Amish fly(or used to fly) to Florida in the winter. Don't

they need picture IDs for that?

[pipoman]

5. Are you sure they were Amish?

Conservative Mennonites, Holderman Mennonites, etc. often fly. I have never seen Amish fly.

[virgogal]

7. See my post #6---I replied in the wrong place. Sorry.

[virgogal]

6. The reason I used "used to fly" was because a friend of mine

from Hershey told me they did,but this was years ago,so I wasn't sure.

I did dig this up,though. http://amishamerica.com/can-amish-fly/

They are smart---there is no pleasure in flying anymore.

[kudzu22]

4. There's always bow hunting season

But I think the church will make an allowance for the state's legal requirements.

[Euromutt]

8. Unfortunately, Illinois requires an FOID even for black powder and muzzleloaders

At least, according to the Illinois State Police's FAQ: http://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/firearmsfaq.cfm

I do take it that no self-respecting Amish would use anything more modern than a flintlock, or at worst a percussion cap firearm, right? With cartridges, you'll just be encouraged to waste ammunition and not take the first shot properly(!)

[Hoopla Phil]

9. I wonder how this will play out at SCOTUS? n/t

[lawodevolution]

10. Time to abolish the FOID crap