While more and more states dispense with concealed carry licensing along with training requirements in favor of constitutional carry, some state still have these mandates in place. Illinois, as the last state in the nation to adopt concealed carry — under court mandate — still has licensing and training requirements. Now, one of the Illinois State Police’s formerly-approved instructors faces criminal charges for faulty training.
Terry Lumma, 60 from Shipman, Illinois, is facing a felony forgery charge for allegedly signing off on training certificates for classes that failed to meet the state’s requirements. Furthermore, she faces another charge for providing a false certification.
Making matters worse, hundreds of her former students now face possible revocation of their concealed carry licenses after submitting Lumma’s training documentation. They now must take a new class with an approved instructor within 60 days.
The Illinois State Police published a press release about the charges. They also published it on Facebook (the comments there are priceless).
Springfield, IL – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Firearms Services Bureau (FSB) Investigative Support Unit (ISU) and the Macoupin County States Attorney Jordan Garrison charged Concealed Carry License (CCL) Instructor Terry Lumma, 60-year-old female of Shipman, IL with Forgery (Class 3 Felony) and Providing False Conceal Carry Weapon (CCW) Certification (Class A Misdemeanor).
“The Illinois State Police takes these types of allegations seriously and will investigate those who attempt to defraud the system and bring them to justice,” stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The men and women of the Illinois State Police, Firearms Services Bureau, continuously strive to protect and maintain the integrity of the FOID and CCL.”
In December 2020, the ISP FSB received a complaint against Lumma. The complaint stated Lumma was not teaching the CCL classes according to the CCL Act 430 ILCS 66/75 (ilga.gov). After a five-month investigation, the FSB investigators found evidence to support the allegations of the complaint. The case was presented to the Macoupin County States Attorney Jordan Garrison, who made the determination to file criminal charges. Lumma was charged with Forgery and Providing False CCW Certification. Lumma was mailed a Notice to Appear and is scheduled to appear at the Macoupin County courthouse on June 23, 2021 at 8:45 a.m.
Due to this investigation, the ISP FSB determined that all the concealed carry certification courses hosted by Lumma, failed to satisfy the mandatory requirements for concealed carry firearm training set forth in the CCL Act. As a result, training certificates issued to over 200 students by Lumma and submitted to the ISP as part of their CCL application have been deemed invalid. All of these students were sent letters notifying them of their status and are being provided a grace period of 60 days from receipt of the letter to complete the requirements for a new, valid CCL. During the 60-day period, the ISP will deem the CCL holder as valid, if the CCL is otherwise in good standing.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, 430 ILCS 66/75, qualified instructors are required to teach all applicants, who are not eligible for prior training credit, a minimum of 16 hours of instruction approved by the Illinois State Police prior to issuing an Illinois Concealed Carry License Training Certification.
The ISP FSB provides a list of CCL frequently asked questions: IL Firearm Applicant Portal (ispfsb.com).
Those required to take training to apply for a carry license would do well to ensure their instructors provide coursework that meets the law’s requirements. Otherwise, they could face a revocation pending letter in the mail at some point in the future.
And short of a letter from the Internal Revenue Service, that’s one piece of mail you never want to receive.
