The modern reference for Illinois firearms law.
Every statute tracked, every change documented, every source cited.
Illinois law often exceeds federal firearms requirements. Firearm owners must comply with the stricter standard wherever federal and state rules diverge.
Illinois lacks full firearms preemption. Home-rule municipalities may enact local gun laws stricter than state law in most areas except concealed carry.
Cook County maintains firearms ordinances that differ from and exceed state law. Residents must comply with county, municipal, and state requirements.
Illinois allows deadly force to prevent death, great bodily harm, or forcible felonies. The Castle Doctrine removes any duty to retreat inside one's dwelling.
Step-by-step guide to the Illinois endorsement affidavit process for registering pre-owned assault weapons under the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
Practical guide for traveling with firearms between Illinois and its neighboring states, covering reciprocity gaps, FOPA protections, and transport law.
Illinois Public Act 104-0030 (HB1373) requires all law enforcement agencies to submit recovered crime guns to ATF eTrace and NIBIN within 2 business days. Makes eTrace participation mandatory statewide. Effective July 28, 2025. No impact on civilian gun ownership.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on April 6, 2026 in Schoenthal v. Raoul, leaving in place the Seventh Circuit ruling that upheld Illinois' prohibition on carrying concealed firearms on public transit. CTA, Metra, Pace, and all other publicly funded transit remain off-limits for CCL holders.
House Bill 1611, known as the Anjanette Young Act, establishes comprehensive requirements for residential search warrant execution in Illinois — including knock-and-announce mandates, no-knock warrant restrictions, time-of-day limitations, and body camera footage requirements. The bill has been placed on the House calendar for second reading, the closest any bill in this space is to a floor vote this session.
A group of Senate bills with March 27, 2026 committee deadlines would make administrative changes to FOID cards and concealed carry licenses — including fee changes, expiration date extensions, renewal simplification, and photograph exemptions.
Companion bills in both chambers would amend the Illinois Procurement Code to impose new requirements on state purchases of firearms and ammunition, potentially restricting which manufacturers can receive state contracts.
House Bill 0034 would prohibit firearms at polling places in Illinois, adding election sites to the list of gun-free zones under the Election Code.
Two bills assigned to the Gun Violence Prevention Committee would establish firearm safety education programs — one targeting gun owners through FOID requirements and another creating school-based curricula.
House Bill 4414 would require serialization of handgun ammunition sold in Illinois, creating a traceable chain from manufacturer to point of sale for every round of handgun ammunition.