Illinois Concealed Carry
Illinois CCW Laws, Reciprocity & Gun Permit Application Online
Legal information provided is for reference and not legal advice. Consult an attorney for specific legal concerns.
Illinois is a shall-issue state, meaning the Illinois State Police must issue a concealed carry license if the applicant meets certain qualifications. However, law enforcement can object to an applicant if they believe the applicant is a danger to public safety or themselves. Such cases are reviewed by the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, which makes the final decision. Applicants are notified by mail, and there is an appeal process.
Open carry of a handgun on your person or in a vehicle is illegal.
An Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL) is required to carry a concealed firearm in Illinois. Applicants must be 21 or older and complete a 16-hour firearms training course conducted by a state-approved instructor. The license permits carrying a loaded or unloaded handgun concealed from public view or within a vehicle. Non-resident licenses are only available for residents of Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia. Illinois does not honor concealed carry licenses from any other state.
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Illinois residents must have a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) to possess a firearm or ammunition. FOID card holders without a CCL can carry unloaded firearms enclosed in a case. You must be 21 years old to apply for a FOID card, or have a parent or guardian sponsor who is eligible for a FOID card.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FOID card holders and CCL licensees who submit renewal applications will remain valid during the state’s disaster proclamation and for 18 months following its termination. This applies even if their renewal application was not submitted before expiration. A FOID card or CCL that expired during the pandemic is still considered valid if the holder applied for renewal, paid the required fees, and the card is not subject to revocation. Additionally, CCL licensees do not need to immediately submit proof of three-hour training with their renewal application but must submit proof within 18 months following the end of the disaster proclamation.
Illinois is a Castle Doctrine state. There is no legal duty to retreat if threatened, and using deadly force is justified.
A person is justified in using force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to defend themselves or another against imminent unlawful force. Deadly force is justified only if it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony.
A person can use force to prevent or terminate another’s trespass or criminal interference with real or personal property. Deadly force is justified only to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
Acts involving justified use of force do not give rise to liability unless the force used involves willful or wanton misconduct.
A person can use force to prevent or terminate an unlawful entry or attack on a dwelling. Deadly force is justified if:
- The entry is violent, and the person believes it necessary to prevent an assault or offer of personal violence.
- The person believes it necessary to prevent the commission of a felony in the dwelling.
On January 10, 2023, Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 5471, the Protect Illinois Communities Act, into law. This law makes it illegal to deliver, sell, purchase, or possess assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, or .50 caliber cartridges. Possession of such weapons is illegal 300 days after the law’s effective date, except for weapons registered with the Illinois State Police within the specified time.
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- Rifles : Belt-fed ammunition systems or detachable magazines holding more than 10 rounds.
- Semi-automatic Rifles : Ability to accept a detachable magazine and features like a folding/telescoping stock or barrel shroud.
- Semi-automatic Pistols : Ability to accept a detachable magazine and features like a folding/telescoping stock, barrel shroud, or a weight of 50 ounces or more when unloaded.
- Semi-automatic Rifles with Fixed Magazines : Capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
- Semi-automatic Shotguns : Features like a folding/telescoping stock, revolving cylinder, or fixed magazine capacity over five rounds, with certain exceptions for wildlife management.
Question: Can you concealed carry weapons other than handguns in Illinois with a concealed carry license (or under permitless carry if applicable)?
Answer: No. An Illinois concealed carry license does not cover weapons other than handguns.
Question: Is it legal to own a taser or stun gun in Illinois?
Answer: Yes. Tasers are legal to purchase with a valid FOID or an Illinois concealed carry license. Based on the passage of HB 562, beginning on January 1, 2024, the buyer must keep a record of the transfer for a period of 10 years and provide a record of the transfer within 10 days to a federally licensed firearm dealer (FFL). The FFL must maintain the transfer record for 20 years from the date of receipt. An FFL may charge a fee not to exceed $25 to retain the record.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled on March 21, 2019, that the comprehensive ban on carrying stun guns and Tasers in public was unconstitutional. However, it’s still illegal to carry stun guns and Tasers in certain circumstances and places, including:
- When intended to use unlawfully against someone
- While masked or hooded to hide identity
- In places licensed to sell intoxicating beverages
- At any licensed public gathering where admission is charged
- In a school, college, or courthouse
- In public housing
- On public transit
The sale or possession of stun guns and Tasers is illegal in Chicago.
Question: Does Illinois have magazine capacity restrictions for handguns?
Answer: Yes. As of January 10, 2023, you cannot buy, sell, or possess magazines of more than 10 rounds for rifles and magazines of more than 15 rounds for handguns.
Question: Does Illinois allow constitutional carry?
Answer: No. Illinois does not recognize constitutional carry.
Question: Is open carry permitted in Illinois?
Answer: No. Open carry is not permitted in Illinois.
Question: If Illinois requires a license to carry a concealed firearm, how are those licenses issued?
Answer: Licenses are issued on a “shall issue” basis, with some discretion.
Question: What is the minimum age in Illinois to get a concealed carry license?
Answer: You must be at least 21 years old to carry concealed in Illinois.
Question: Is it legal to buy or use chemical spray/pepper spray in Illinois?
Answer: Yes. Non-lethal noxious liquid gas or a substance designed solely for personal defense may be carried by a person 18 years of age or older.
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Question: Does Illinois have ammunition restrictions?
Answer: Yes. Armor-piercing ammunition is prohibited. Residents must obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card to buy ammunition. Even if buying ammo outside the state, residents need a FOID card and a driver’s license or state-issued identification card to take shipment of ammunition.
Note: Most Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) handgun ammunition commonly used for training is exempt based on jacket weight or core composition. Read the label for details.
Can you carry a concealed firearm in these areas in Illinois?
Yes, you can carry a concealed firearm in state/national parks, forests, and WMAs in Illinois with an Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL). However, carrying is not allowed in posted buildings, IDNR State Refuge areas, IDNR Dedicated Nature Preserves, or IDNR children’s playground areas.
Can you carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle in Illinois?
Yes, anyone with an Illinois CCL may keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm in a vehicle. Non-residents may transport a loaded concealed handgun if they have a valid CCW permit from their home state. Non-residents from states allowing concealed/open carry without a license are not required to produce a license if they are not prohibited under federal law and are eligible to carry in their home state.
If non-residents leave their vehicles unattended, the firearm must be stored within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view. The firearm may only be carried in the immediate area surrounding the vehicle for the purpose of storing or retrieving it within the trunk.
Can you carry a concealed firearm in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol in Illinois?
No, you may not carry a concealed firearm in any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an establishment that serves alcohol if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts from the prior three months is from alcohol sales.
Can you carry or possess a firearm on hotel property in Illinois?
Firearms can be possessed in hotels if carried into the room unloaded and enclosed in a case, assuming no local ordinance applies and the hotel isn’t posted. It is advised to contact the individual hotel to inquire about its concealed carry policy.
Does Illinois have laws relating to storing firearms in private vehicles in an employee parking lot?
Yes, licensees prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm into a parking area of a prohibited location can store a firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or container out of plain view. The firearm can be carried in the immediate area surrounding the vehicle for the purpose of storing or retrieving it within the vehicle’s trunk.
Anyone with a FOID card can have a firearm in a vehicle if it is not immediately accessible or unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container.
Can you carry a concealed firearm at roadside rest areas in Illinois?
No, you may not carry a concealed handgun at a roadside rest area in Illinois.
Does Illinois state law define brandishing?
No definition of brandishing was found in Illinois law. However, a person commits intimidation when, with intent to cause another to perform or to omit the performance of any act, he or she communicates to another, directly or indirectly by any means, a threat to inflict physical harm on the person threatened or any other person or on property.
Does Illinois issue concealed carry licenses to non-residents?
Yes, but only residents of states or territories of the United States that have laws substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act are eligible. Currently, the only states considered to be substantially similar are Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia.
Does Illinois allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?
No. The Illinois concealed carry registry is not publicly accessible.
Does Illinois have a red flag law?
Yes, Illinois has a red flag law that was revised effective August 13, 2021. A spouse, former spouse, person with whom the person has a minor child in common, parent, child, or step-child of the person, any other person related by blood or present marriage to the person, or who shares a common dwelling with the person or a law enforcement officer may file a petition prohibiting and enjoining a named person from having in his or her custody or control, purchasing, possessing, or receiving any firearms or ammunition, or removing firearm parts that could be assembled to make an operable firearm. If issued, the firearms restraining order would transfer any firearms or ammunition, FOID card, and concealed carry license to law enforcement for no more than six months.
Does Illinois have preemption laws related to concealed carry?
Yes, the state has preemption of firearms laws in Illinois. The regulation, licensing, possession, registration, and transportation of handguns and ammunition for handguns by concealed handgun licensees are exclusive powers and functions of the State. Any ordinance or regulation that purports to impose regulations or restrictions on licensees or handguns and ammunition for handguns shall be invalid in its application to licensees. Local municipalities can regulate individuals who do not possess a valid FOID card or CCL, firearms other than handguns, and matters related to the sale, purchase, and storage of all firearms.
Does Illinois have laws regarding carrying a concealed firearm while using alcohol or drugs?
Not while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or combination of compounds, or any combination thereof, under the standards set forth in § 11–501(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code. It is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgment, slow your reaction times, or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.
Do you have a duty to notify a police officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Illinois?
No. There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Illinois unless the officer asks.
Is my Illinois driver’s license linked to my Illinois carry license?
Yes. Your Illinois driver’s license is linked to your Illinois concealed carry license. Therefore, a law enforcement officer will be notified immediately that you are a concealed carry license holder if they run your driver’s license.
Are “No Weapons Allowed” signs enforced in Illinois?
Yes. Signs stating that the carrying of firearms is prohibited must be clearly and conspicuously posted at the entrance of a building, premises, or real property specified as a prohibited area unless the building or premises is a private residence. Any violation constitutes a misdemeanor, may trigger license suspension or revocation, as well as a fine.
Question: Do handguns need to be registered in Illinois?
Answer: No. Illinois does not require handguns to be registered.
Question: Can I possess/carry a handgun in my home without a license?
Answer: Yes. A license is not needed for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm to carry a pistol, revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm on the person’s land, in their own home, fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person’s permission.
Question: Does my current Illinois concealed carry license exempt me from needing a background check when I purchase a firearm?
Answer: No.
Question: Is there a waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Illinois?
Answer: Yes. As of January 1, 2019, the waiting period for the purchase of all guns is 72 hours. The purchaser must also have a FOID card issued by the State Police to purchase any firearm or ammunition.
Question: Is a permit required to purchase a handgun in Illinois?
Answer: Yes. A Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) is required when purchasing a handgun in Illinois. However, there is an exception for transfers that occur at the place of business of a federally licensed firearm dealer, if the dealer conducts a background check on the prospective recipient and follows all other applicable laws. Additionally, Cook County has a one gun purchase per month ordinance.
Question: Are background checks required for private gun sales in Illinois? Are there exceptions?
Answer: If a firearm is being sold privately, the seller must verify the purchaser’s FOID card and keep a record of the sale for 10 years. The seller must contact the state police to receive a transfer approval number. There are exceptions, including transfers as bona fide gifts to certain family members and temporary transfers to prevent imminent harm.
Upcoming Process (Effective January 1, 2024): Private sellers will need to work with a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) or the Illinois State Police to verify the purchaser’s FOID card and complete a background check. Buyers must submit a record of the transfer to an FFL within 10 days of receiving the gun.
Question: What is the minimum age to possess and transport a handgun in Illinois?
Answer: 18 years old. Must have a FOID Card. A person under 21 must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian who is eligible to possess a FOID card. The applicant must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor other than a traffic offense or adjudged delinquent.
Illinois residents are required to have a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card to purchase or possess a firearm or ammunition in the state. New residents have 60 days from obtaining an Illinois driver’s license or state ID to obtain a FOID. Applicants must be 21 years of age or have a parent or guardian sponsor who is eligible for a FOID card.
Process Changes (Effective January 1, 2022):
- The Illinois State Police will create a combined FOID and Concealed Carry License (CCL).
- Applicants will be able to apply for renewal 6 months before expiration and have synchronized renewal dates.
- FOID card applicants are not required to submit fingerprints but can opt to do so for automatic renewal without a fee, provided they purchased a gun within the 10-year renewal period and passed the ISP background check.
Applying for a FOID Card:
- Apply online or through an alternative call-in method by calling 217–782–7980.
- Required: Illinois-issued Driver’s License or State ID Card, a passport-sized photo taken in the last 30 days, and any necessary fees (military fee exemption available).
Application Approval:
- Applications are approved or denied within 30 days of receipt.
- The status of your application can be checked on the FOID website.
- A FOID card is valid for 10 years unless the holder no longer meets the requirements or becomes subject to suspension or revocation.
Renewing Your FOID Card:
- Renew online or via the call-in method.
- A combined card will be issued if the holder has a valid CCL.
- If a FOID card expires during the term of a CCL, the FOID card will be automatically renewed without a fee, and a new combined card will be issued.
Alabama (permitless carry, at least 19 years old)
Arkansas (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Idaho (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Indiana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Minnesota
Montana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Nevada
New Hampshire (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
North Carolina
North Dakota (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
South Dakota (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Vermont (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Virginia
Wisconsin
Alaska (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arizona (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Florida (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Georgia (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Iowa (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kansas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kentucky (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Maine (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Michigan (at least 21 years old and resident permits only)
Mississippi (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Missouri (permitless carry, at least 19 years old, 18 for military)
Nebraska (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Ohio (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Oklahoma (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
South Carolina (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Tennessee (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Texas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Utah (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
West Virginia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Wyoming (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Alabama (permitless carry, at least 19 years old)
Alaska (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arizona (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arkansas (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Florida (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Georgia (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Idaho (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Indiana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Iowa (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kansas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kentucky (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Maine (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Mississippi (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Missouri (permitless carry, at least 19 years old, 18 for military)
Montana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Nebraska (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New Hampshire (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
North Dakota (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Ohio (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Oklahoma (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
South Carolina (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
South Dakota (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Tennessee (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Texas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Utah (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Vermont (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
West Virginia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Wyoming (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
An applicant must:
- Be 21 years old.
- Have applied for, or have a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) — FOIDs are valid for 10 years and are processed in 30 days.
- Not have been convicted of a felony.
- Not have failed a drug test for a drug for which the applicant did not have a prescription within the previous year.
- Not have been convicted or found guilty of a misdemeanor involving the threat of physical force or violence to any person within the past 5 years.
- Not have two or more violations related to driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or intoxicating compounds within the past 5 years.
- Not be subject to a pending arrest warrant, prosecution, or proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification to own or possess a firearm.
- Not have been in residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification, or drug treatment within the past 5 years.
- Meet federal law requirements.
Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Illinois.
Based on the passage of HB 562 (2021), the following process will be implemented as of January 1, 2022:
- The Illinois State Police will create a combined FOID and CCL, offering cardholders the ability to apply for renewal 6 months before the expiration date, and will update FOID and CCL renewal dates to be the same for one cardholder.
- Beginning January 1, 2022, if the FOID expires during the term of the licensee’s CCL, the FOID and the license remain valid during the validity of the CCL. The licensee does not have to renew his or her FOID if it has not been otherwise renewed as provided in this Act. Unless the Illinois State Police has reason to believe the licensee is no longer eligible for the card, the Illinois State Police may automatically renew the licensee’s FOID.
- Initial License: $150 ($300 for non-residents)
- Renewals: $150 ($300 for non-residents)
5 years
90–120 days
Illinois grants non-resident licenses only to residents of states or territories of the United States that have laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying that are substantially similar to the requirements in Illinois. Currently, the only states considered to be substantially similar are Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia. The application process is the same as for residents.
Notify the Department within 30 days of moving or changing residence or any change of name and submit the appropriate fee. The Department may require a notarized statement that you have changed your residence or name, including the prior and current address or name and the date you moved or changed your name.
You must report your IL CCL lost or stolen within 10 days of discovering it has been lost or stolen. You will need to provide a notarized statement and, if applicable, a copy of the police report stating that it was stolen. There is a replacement fee.
Illinois issues licenses to residents and select non-residents. Residents are required to obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card to apply for a license. Non-residents are not required to have a FOID provided they have a valid concealed carry permit issued in their home state. Any new resident who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing or using a firearm is not required to have a FOID card to possess firearms or firearms ammunition until 60 calendar days after he or she obtains an Illinois driver’s license or Illinois ID Card.
Does that license transfer to your new state?
Is there a grace period during which your Illinois license remains valid? Simply mail your FOID and CCL back to the Firearms Services Bureau at 801 S. 7th Street, Suite 400M, Springfield, Illinois 62703. Include a note that you have moved out of state and are surrendering your FOID/CCL. If you are moving to a substantially similar state and wish to have an Illinois CCL, you will have to re-apply as a non-resident.
The following process will be implemented as of January 1, 2022:
- The Illinois State Police will create a combined FOID and CCL, allowing cardholders to apply for renewal 6 months before the expiration date and update FOID and CCL renewal dates to be the same for one cardholder.
- FOID card applicants will not be required to submit fingerprints, but if they do, or they share with the Illinois State Police the fingerprints they filed to receive their concealed carry license, they will be eligible for automatic renewal without a renewal fee, provided they purchased a gun within the 10-year period between renewals and passed the ISP background check.
However, it is not known when this process will be implemented. Therefore, the following steps to apply for a permit have not yet been updated.
Apply for a FOID
- Complete the online application for a FOID on the Illinois State Police website.
- Get a user ID and password.
- You will need the following:
- A valid driver’s license or state identification card
- A head and shoulder electronic photograph taken within the last 30 days
- $10.00 payable with a credit card or electronic check
- You will be notified by email if your FOID application has been approved.
Complete Firearms Training
- Complete your firearms training course provided by an ISP-approved instructor.
Apply for a CCL
- Once you have applied for and/or received your FOID card, complete the online application for a CCL.
- Options for submitting applications include online, paper, and phone-in methods (217–782–7980).
- The following documents are required:
- A valid Illinois driver’s license or state ID
- An Illinois State Police user ID and password
- An electronic copy of your training certificate(s)
- A valid FOID or a FOID in process
- An electronic head and shoulders photo taken within the previous 30 days
- The last 10 years of residency
- For non-residents:
- An electronic copy of a valid concealed carry license from the applicant’s home state
- A notarized affidavit documenting eligibility under both state and federal laws, understanding of the laws pertaining to possession and transport of firearms, acknowledgment of being subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Police and Illinois courts, and meeting the mental health standards in Illinois to obtain a firearm
- Optional Fingerprints — While not required, if opting to provide fingerprints, visit a fingerprint vendor to have your prints taken.
- Make your payment.
NOTE: Applicants will be assigned a transaction control number (TCN) at the time of fingerprinting and must retain that TCN to complete the application. Specify to the Live Scan vendor that your fingerprint application is for the concealed carry application.
Processing Time
- Allow 90 days for processing, or 120 days if electronic fingerprints are not provided. The backlog of applications may vary. Applicants for FOIDs and CCLs can view the average processing time for FOIDs and CCLs on the Illinois State Police website.
Notification
- You will be notified if your CCL application has been approved.
- Carry in bars/restaurants that serve alcohol? You may not concealed carry in any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an establishment that serves alcohol on its premises if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts within the prior 3 months are from the sale of alcohol.
- Carry in my vehicle without a permit/license? No.
- Carry in roadside rest areas? No.
- Carry in state/national parks, state/national forests, and WMAs? Yes.
- Carry in places of worship? There is no state statute prohibiting concealed carry in places of worship. However, since places of worship are private property, they may post signs prohibiting firearms.
- Carry on public transportation? No.
Places off-limits even with a permit/license:
- School and school-related activity transportation
- Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of an:
- Elementary school, secondary school, pre-school, child-care facility, colleges, and universities and in a vehicle on any public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a school.
- Stadium, arena, or the real property or parking area under the control of a stadium, arena, or any collegiate or professional sporting event.
- Officer of the executive or legislative branch of state government (other than the IL DNR).
- Hospital, mental health facility, nursing home.
- Adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison, jail.
- Public transportation facility.
- Establishment where more than 50 percent of sales are from alcohol.
- Gaming facility.
- Public library.
- Airport, including both commercial and charter aircraft.
- Amusement park, zoo, museum.
- Private property that is clearly and conspicuously posted.
- Public playgrounds, parks, and athletic facilities (except on trails or bikeways).
- Courts.
- Local government buildings.
- Public transportation, transportation facilities.
- Public gatherings or special events open to the public.
- Locations that have been issued special liquor licenses or special use permits.
- Cook County Forest Preserve property (based on a lawsuit, the Court issued a temporary stay on enforcement of this policy for a period of six months, which has now been extended until June 8, 2022).
- Nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- Private property that is clearly and conspicuously posted.
- Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
You can own any knife you would like as long as it is not a ballistic knife or throwing star. Carrying a switchblade is legal with a FOID card. Automatic knives are in a gray area since they are activated by pressing a button, but balisong knives are legal. However, there are some areas (such as courthouses, public parks, and public transportation) that are off-limits.
Can you concealed carry while shotgun/rifle hunting in Illinois?
Yes. Based on the passage of HB 562 (2021), as of January 1, 2022, CCL holders will be able to carry a handgun in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
Can you concealed carry while bow hunting in Illinois?
Yes. Based on the passage of HB 562 (2021), as of January 1, 2022, CCL holders will be able to carry a handgun in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
Is there a Hunter Harassment Law in Illinois?
Yes. A person commits hunter or fisherman interference when he or she intentionally or knowingly obstructs or interferes with the lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life by another person with the specific intent to prevent that lawful taking.
I can legally carry a concealed firearm in Illinois, but can I wear a COVID-19 protective mask while carrying concealed?
Illinois is one of just two states with statutes against carrying a concealed firearm while wearing a mask (the other being California). However, sheriffs and county prosecutors in Illinois have made statements indicating that wearing a mask to protect others from COVID-19 while carrying a gun isn’t illegal as long as the wearer isn’t wearing the mask while committing a crime.
