Last month, the Hancock County Circuit Court Ordered the Hancock County Sheriff to provide the names of people who purchased guns at the Sheriff's gun sale. We asked for the records so we could determine if any Sheriff's Department employees purchased any guns from the department (55 ILCS 5/3-6026), and because any sales by a local Sheriff or City Police Department of confiscated firearms violates state law.
This FOIA lawsuit was filed in 2019 after their refusal to provide the information pursuant to a FOIA request.
The Sheriff argued that Illinois state law prohibited him from releasing names of FOID card holders, and Iowa residents should be afforded the same protections as Illinois residents.
Hancock County, Illinois sheriff ordered to turn over names of firearm purchasers
1Court Orders Hancock County Sheriff To Hand Over Names Of Gun Purchasers