Two Concealed Carry Instructors Decertified After Complaints
(STMW) -- Two firearms instructors are no longer approved to instruct Illinois concealed carry curricula after students' complaints led to an investigation.
Illinois State Police received complaints in January from the public alleging the instructors were awarding certificates to students who had not completed the required 16 hours of training required by law, according to a release from police.
Investigators conducted numerous interviews and reviewed records and found that the training was not conducted in accordance with the law, and the instructors were decertified, according to the statement.
The investigation also found that 98 students who received training from the instructors did not meet the minimum hours of required training, the statement said. Their concealed carry applications will be denied, but the students will be allowed to appeal the denial.
The St. Clair County State's Attorney's office has been notified and is in the process of reviewing the case, police said.
"No system is going to be 100 percent fail proof and we know that there will be individuals determined to abuse the process," ISP Director Hiram Grau said in the statement.
"Our efforts to encourage applicants to report suspicious activity or inconsistencies at every level are working and we want to remind the public that anyone caught abusing the system could potentially face state and federal fraud charges — including jail time," Grau said.
The public can report complaints to Illinois State Police by calling (217) 782-7980.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
