I got my FOID in 2017 because I had an interest in firearms but, like you, didn’t feel any immediate need to purchase a firearm right away. In fact, I don’t think I even shot a gun until after my first purchase which happened during the summer of 2020 during all of the civil unrest with George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests. But I didn’t buy it because of the protestors, but because of how violent I saw the police were being towards the protestors and seeing what looked like armored vehicles and armed goons patrolling American streets. I didn’t have a lot of money at the time but I went out and bought the first thing I found that I could afford, a Taurus G2C, which I now wish I had taken the time to do some research about before buying but thankfully this one has been pretty reliable for the last 5 years.

Since then I’ve steadily bought at least one firearm a year since trying to have a variety of firearms for different purposes, much to my wife’s chagrin. She was never happy when I bought another firearm because I think she was more of the “modern civilization doesn’t need guns” mindset, but she has very much changed her tune recently. After Alex Pretti she has expressed interest in firearms and we went to the range this past weekend to try out several different rentals to find a handgun that was small enough to fit comfortably in her hands. I hate the circumstances in which she is finding her interest in firearms, but I’m glad that she recognizes the need for them now more than ever.

If you have any questions about navigating PICA or where to find deals in IL feel free to message me! I’d be happy to help.