Compliance Guides
Step-by-step guides to help you navigate Illinois firearms compliance.
Purchase Compliance
3Buying a Handgun in Illinois: Step-by-Step
A complete walkthrough for purchasing a handgun in Illinois, including FOID card requirements, the FTIP background check, and the 72-hour waiting period.
Buying a Rifle or Shotgun in Illinois
Complete guide to purchasing rifles and shotguns in Illinois, including FOID card requirements, PICA restrictions, the 72-hour waiting period, and age rules.
First-Time Gun Buyer Guide for Illinois
A step-by-step guide covering everything first-time gun buyers in Illinois need to know, from obtaining a FOID card to completing your first purchase.
Storage Requirements
1Transportation
1Reciprocity
2Illinois Concealed Carry Reciprocity Guide
Illinois does not recognize any other state's concealed carry permits. This guide covers reciprocity rules, the non-resident CCL option, and FOPA law.
Traveling Between IL, IN, WI, MO, and IA With Firearms
Practical guide for traveling with firearms between Illinois and its neighboring states, covering reciprocity gaps, FOPA protections, and transport law.
Self-Defense
1Legal Analysis
3Cook County vs. State Law: Navigating Local Firearms Ordinances
Cook County maintains firearms ordinances that differ from and exceed state law. Residents must comply with county, municipal, and state requirements.
Federal vs. Illinois Law: Where They Overlap and Diverge
Illinois law often exceeds federal firearms requirements. Firearm owners must comply with the stricter standard wherever federal and state rules diverge.
Illinois Preemption: What Home-Rule Municipalities Can Regulate
Illinois lacks full firearms preemption. Home-rule municipalities may enact local gun laws stricter than state law in most areas except concealed carry.
PICA Compliance
2How to Register a Pre-Owned Assault Weapon (Endorsement Affidavit)
Step-by-step guide to the Illinois endorsement affidavit process for registering pre-owned assault weapons under the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
PICA Compliance: What Firearms Are Still Legal in Illinois
Practical guide to which firearms remain fully legal under the Protect Illinois Communities Act, including compliant configurations and magazine limits.