Lake County excels in firearm restraining orders usage

Lake County officials announced that they are leading Illinois in the use of Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs). These orders help temporarily restrict a person’s access to guns if law enforcement believes they may harm themselves or others. At a recent media briefing, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly shared that Lake County filed the most FROs per 100,000 residents in 2023 and 2024. Last year, judges granted 46 FROs. This number has increased significantly from just two in 2021, showing a growing effort to enhance community safety. Rinehart emphasized that these orders are part of a broad strategy to create a safe environment for all residents. He noted a decrease in firearm-related suicides and homicides in the county over the past two years and feels that FROs have contributed to this positive trend. Requests for FROs typically come from local law enforcement, which must convince a judge of the necessity for the order. These orders can be removed if the individual is deemed no longer a threat. Sheriff John Idleburg highlighted a recent case where his office obtained an FRO after a student threatened peers while displaying a shotgun. Training sessions for local law enforcement about the FRO process are regularly held in collaboration with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Illinois State Police. Rinehart also pointed out that support is available from various agencies to navigate the FRO process. Kelly suggested that Lake County’s effective approach could be replicated across Illinois to combat gun violence.