Glossary

Key terms and abbreviations used in Illinois firearms law.

Aggravated UUW: Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (720 ILCS 5/24-1.6), called aggravated unlawful use of a weapon before January 1, 2025. An enhanced weapons charge that applies when a person carries or possesses a firearm in public or in a vehicle and an aggravating factor is present, such as having no currently valid FOID card, or carrying an uncased, loaded and immediately accessible handgun without a CCL. A first offense is a Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years in prison, and a fine of up to $25,000). A second or subsequent offense is a Class 2 felony with a prison term of 3 to 7 years.
Armed Habitual Criminal: Unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender, called armed habitual criminal before January 1, 2025. A Class X felony under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 for receiving, selling, possessing, or transferring a firearm after two or more convictions for qualifying offenses. Qualifying offenses include forcible felonies, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm, gunrunning, home invasion, and drug offenses punishable as a Class 3 felony or higher. A Class X felony carries a prison term of 6 to 30 years.
Assault Weapon: As defined under the Protect Illinois Communities Act (Public Act 102-1116), a semiautomatic rifle that can accept a detachable magazine and has any one prohibited feature, including a pistol grip, thumbhole stock, folding or telescoping stock, grenade launcher, barrel shroud, or flash suppressor. The definition also covers semiautomatic pistols and shotguns with specified features, as well as specifically named models including AR-15 and AK-47 variants. Additionally, .50 caliber rifles and cartridges are included in the ban.
Automatic Renewal: A FOID card process that the Illinois State Police had to provide by rule by January 1, 2023, for holders who have a set of fingerprints on file with their FOID application or under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. The card is renewed automatically at the time of a firearm transfer inquiry, without a separate renewal application. A card issued this way remains valid unless the holder no longer meets the requirements or becomes subject to suspension or revocation.
Barnett v. Raoul: A Second Amendment challenge to the Protect Illinois Communities Act filed in the Southern District of Illinois (Case No. 3:23-cv-209). After a bench trial, the district court held that much of the Act violated the Second Amendment and enjoined enforcement of the Act in its entirety. The Seventh Circuit stayed the injunctions pending appeal. On July 9, 2026, the Seventh Circuit reversed, holding that the Act's restrictions on AR-15s and thirty-round rifle magazines are consistent with the nation's tradition of firearm regulation. Chief Judge Brennan dissented. The plaintiffs have asked the U.S. Supreme Court for more time to file a petition for certiorari.
Bevis v. Naperville: A federal challenge to the City of Naperville's municipal assault weapons ban and the state ban under the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The Seventh Circuit consolidated the appeal with other challenges, including Barnett v. Raoul and Harrel v. Raoul. In 2023 the Seventh Circuit held that the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the merits and vacated the preliminary injunctions entered in the Southern District of Illinois, with Judge Brennan dissenting.
Bruen: Shorthand for the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The decision established a two-part test for evaluating the constitutionality of firearms regulations: first, whether the regulated conduct falls within the plain text of the Second Amendment, and second, whether the government can identify a historical analogue justifying the regulation. The Bruen framework is central to the ongoing challenges to the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
Castle Doctrine: Illinois's defense-of-dwelling provision codified at 720 ILCS 5/7-2. A person may use force when he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent or end another person's unlawful entry into or attack upon a dwelling. Deadly force is justified only if the entry is violent, riotous, or tumultuous and the person reasonably believes the force is necessary to prevent an assault on someone in the dwelling, or if the person reasonably believes the force is necessary to prevent a felony in the dwelling. A dwelling includes a building, tent, vehicle, or other enclosed space used as a home or residence.
CCL: Concealed Carry License. The license required to carry a loaded, concealed firearm on one's person or in a vehicle in Illinois. Issued by the Illinois State Police under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66), which took effect in 2013. Applicants must be at least 21, hold a valid FOID card, complete 16 hours of approved training, and pass a live-fire qualification. The license is valid for 5 years and costs $150 for residents, $300 for non-residents.
Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board: A board created within the Illinois State Police under 430 ILCS 66/20 that reviews objections to CCL applications made by law enforcement agencies or the Illinois State Police. If the Board finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the applicant poses a danger to himself or herself or others, or is a threat to public safety, it affirms the objection and the applicant is ineligible. Otherwise the Board notifies the Illinois State Police that the applicant is eligible for a license.
Cook County: The county that includes Chicago. Under the FOID Card Act, regulating the possession or ownership of assault weapons is an exclusive power of the State, but a local assault weapons ordinance enacted on, before, or within 10 days after the 2013 amendment stays valid, which is why some Cook County area ordinances still apply alongside state law.
Endorsement Affidavit: A document required under the Protect Illinois Communities Act for individuals who possessed assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, or .50 caliber cartridges before January 10, 2023. The affidavit must include the owner's FOID card number and the make, model, caliber, and serial number of the weapon. It had to be submitted to the ISP before January 1, 2024. Administered by the ISP Assault Weapons page, the affidavit creates a presumption that the person may lawfully possess the items and is required for continued lawful possession. Large-capacity magazines possessed before January 10, 2023 do not need an affidavit.
FDLC: Firearm Dealer License Certification. A state certification of a federal firearms license, required under the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act (430 ILCS 68) to engage in the business of selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring firearms in Illinois. The Act took effect in 2019, and certification became required 180 days later. The ISP sets the fee, which may not exceed $1,500 for a retail location or $300 for a licensee without a retail location. The certified licensee and every employee who sells or transfers firearms must receive at least 2 hours of training each year.
Firearms Restraining Order: A court order authorized under the Firearms Restraining Order Act (430 ILCS 67), often referred to as Illinois's "red flag law." The order temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms when they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. Originally effective January 1, 2019, the law was expanded under PICA to allow orders lasting up to one year (previously limited to six months). Family members, household members, and law enforcement may petition for an order.
FOID Card: Firearm Owners Identification Card. A license issued by the ISP under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65) that any person in Illinois must have to acquire or possess firearms, stun guns, tasers, or firearm ammunition, subject to the exceptions in the Act. The card is valid for 10 years and costs $10 to apply, plus applicable processing fees.
FTIP: Firearms Transfer Inquiry Program. The ISP's state-level background check system used by federally licensed firearms dealers at the point of sale. FTIP searches criminal history records, FBI/NICS databases, and Department of Human Services files relating to mental health and developmental disabilities. Unlike states that rely solely on the federal NICS system, Illinois operates FTIP as a point-of-contact system, allowing the state to check additional databases beyond what NICS covers.
Home Rule: Under Article VII, Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution, a county with an elected chief executive officer and any municipality with a population of more than 25,000 are home rule units, and other municipalities may become home rule units by referendum. Home rule units may act concurrently with the State unless the General Assembly limits that power or declares the State's power exclusive, as the FOID Card Act does for assault weapon ordinances enacted after its 2013 amendment.
ISP: Illinois State Police. The primary state agency responsible for firearms regulation in Illinois through its Firearms Services Bureau. ISP administers FOID cards, Concealed Carry Licenses, the FTIP background check system, Firearm Dealer License Certifications, and assault weapon endorsement affidavits. Courts issue firearms restraining orders, and ISP keeps the statewide record of them. ISP also operates an Internet-based system for checking whether a FOID card is valid before a sale or transfer.
Karina's Law: Public Act 103-1065, approved by the Governor on February 10, 2025 and effective May 11, 2025. When a domestic violence order of protection is entered, a law enforcement officer may, at the request of the petitioner or the State's Attorney, seek a search warrant for the respondent's firearms and firearm parts, and the law enforcement agency must execute the warrant no later than 96 hours after it is issued.
Large Capacity Magazine: Under the Protect Illinois Communities Act, a magazine or similar feeding device with a capacity of more than 10 rounds for long guns or more than 15 rounds for handguns. The manufacture, sale, delivery, and purchase of large-capacity magazines is prohibited. Magazines lawfully possessed before January 10, 2023, may be kept without an endorsement affidavit, but only on private property, at a licensed range or competition, at a dealer or gunsmith for repair, or while traveling between these places unloaded and in a case. A violation is a petty offense with a fine of $1,000 for each violation.
PICA: Protect Illinois Communities Act (Public Act 102-1116 / HB 5471). Approved by the Governor on January 10, 2023, six months after the Highland Park Independence Day parade shooting. PICA enacted a statewide assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits (10 rounds for long guns, 15 for handguns), a ban on rapid-fire devices, background checks for private sales (effective July 1, 2023), and the endorsement affidavit system. The law also extended firearms restraining orders from 6 months to up to 1 year. On July 9, 2026, the Seventh Circuit upheld the Act's restrictions in Barnett v. Raoul.
Parking Area Exception: A provision under 430 ILCS 66/65(b) that allows a CCL holder who is prohibited from carrying into a restricted location to carry a concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle into the parking area of that location. The holder may also store a firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view in the parking area. The exception does not apply to the locations in paragraphs (22) and (23) of subsection (a).
Protect Illinois Communities Act: The full name for PICA (Public Act 102-1116), signed by Governor Pritzker on January 10, 2023. The law enacts a statewide assault weapons ban using both a features-based test and a named-models list, imposes magazine capacity limits of 10 rounds for rifles and 15 for handguns, bans rapid-fire devices, requires universal background checks for all private sales, and establishes the endorsement affidavit system for grandfathering pre-owned weapons. See also: PICA.
Rapid-Fire Device: Under the Protect Illinois Communities Act (720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(14)), any device, part, kit, tool, accessory, or combination of parts that is designed to and functions to increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm above the standard rate of fire for semiautomatic firearms. Manufacturing, possessing, selling, transferring, or using such a device is banned statewide and is a Class 2 felony.
Safe Gun Storage Act: Enacted as SB 0008, signed by Governor Pritzker in July 2025, effective January 1, 2026. The law (430 ILCS 64) requires firearm owners to keep a firearm secured in a locked container when the owner knows or reasonably should know that a minor (under 18) without a parent's permission, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 for a general violation, up to $1,000 if such a person obtains the firearm, and up to $10,000 if that person uses it to injure or kill someone or in connection with a crime.
Shall-Issue: Illinois's concealed carry licensing classification since 2013. Under a shall-issue system, the ISP must issue a CCL to any applicant who meets all statutory qualifications. Law enforcement agencies may also object to an application based on a reasonable suspicion that the applicant is a danger to himself or herself or others, or a threat to public safety, and the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board decides those objections.
72-Hour Waiting Period: Illinois requires a 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases, for handguns and long guns alike. No firearm may be delivered, incidental to a sale, until at least 72 hours after the application to purchase it was made. This applies to both dealer sales and private sales. There are exceptions, including sales to a law enforcement officer known to the seller, sales to licensed dealers, certain mail order sales to nonresidents, and certain long gun sales at competitive shooting events at the World Shooting Complex. Holding a FOID card or CCL does not shorten the wait.
UUW: Unlawful Possession of Weapons (720 ILCS 5/24-1), called unlawful use of weapons before 2025. The core weapons offense in Illinois's Criminal Code, covering a wide range of prohibited conduct including carrying certain weapons, possessing prohibited firearms, and other weapons violations. Many violations are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by less than one year in jail. A second or subsequent violation of certain subsections is a Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years). Effective January 1, 2025, HB 4500 renamed the offense from "unlawful use of weapons" to "unlawful possession of weapons."
Universal Background Check: Under the Protect Illinois Communities Act (effective July 1, 2023), private (non-dealer) firearm transfers in Illinois must include a background check. Private sellers must either go through an FFL who conducts a FTIP background check, or contact ISP with the buyer's FOID card number to confirm the card is valid under State and federal law, including NICS. Bona fide gifts to listed relatives are exempt from this requirement, but the recipient must still show a valid FOID card or CCL. The seller must keep a record of the transfer for 10 years.
Vehicle Carry: The rules for carrying a firearm in a vehicle in Illinois vary based on the type of license held. With a CCL, the holder may keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm on or about his or her person within the vehicle. With a FOID card only (no CCL), the firearm must be unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container. Without a FOID card, possessing a firearm is generally unlawful, with exceptions that include nonresidents whose firearms are unloaded and enclosed in a case.