A state audit has found bureaucratic loopholes and incomplete data have weakened the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card program.

The first-ever audit of the program found that the mentally ill and others could obtain a FOID card to purchase firearms and ammunition. The audit doesn't detail any cases or examples. Auditor General William Holland says public safety "is at risk."

More than 1.3 million Illinois residents have FOID cards. The state started the program in 1968.

The audit found faulty reporting allowed ineligible people to obtain FOID cards and it cited lengthy delays in processing card requests.

Records show more than 20,000 FOID cards were revoked between 2008 and 2010, but auditors found state police recovered only 30% of those FOID cards from cardholders.