The Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), signed January 10, 2023, generally prohibited the sale and purchase of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in Illinois, subject to statutory exceptions. Individuals subject to the original filing deadline who lawfully possessed covered firearms or attachments before the ban took effect may retain them under the endorsement provision if they submitted an endorsement affidavit to the Illinois State Police (ISP) before January 1, 2024 and comply with the possession restrictions. Pre-ban large-capacity magazines do not require an endorsement affidavit. This guide explains the process.[1]
Which firearms can still be bought and owned is covered in What Guns Are Legal in Illinois After PICA.
What Is the Endorsement Affidavit
The endorsement affidavit is electronically executed through the online FOID/FCCL system to register an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge with the ISP. It covers lawful pre-ban possession, qualifying inheritance, people moving into Illinois with covered items, and voluntary filings by exempt persons. Large-capacity magazines are grandfathered without registration and are not listed on the affidavit (720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(d)). A completed endorsement affidavit submitted to the ISP creates a rebuttable presumption that you are entitled to possess and transport the listed item under PICA.[2]
Who Needs to Submit
Unless a statutory exemption applies, you must submit an endorsement affidavit if the following describe your situation.
- Possessed an assault weapon (as defined by PICA) before January 10, 2023
- Possessed an assault weapon attachment or a .50 caliber cartridge before January 10, 2023
- Possessed a .50 caliber rifle before January 10, 2023
- Want to continue lawfully possessing any of these items in Illinois
If you are subject to the endorsement requirement and still possess a pre-ban assault weapon, attachment, or .50 caliber item after your applicable filing deadline without submitting an affidavit, you are in violation of PICA. Grandfathered large-capacity magazines are not affected, because they require no affidavit.
The Registration Deadline
The ISP began accepting endorsement affidavit submissions on October 1, 2023, with a filing deadline of January 1, 2024. If you missed this deadline, contact the ISP Firearms Services Bureau to determine whether late submissions are being accepted and what options may be available. The ISP's assault weapons information page provides current guidance.[2]
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Gather Required Information
Before starting the submission, collect the following for each firearm or other covered item you are registering:
- Your FOID card number when available
- The make of the firearm (manufacturer)
- The model of the firearm
- The serial number of the firearm
- The caliber
Step 2: Access the ISP Portal
Log in to the ISP Firearms Services Bureau portal at ispfsb.com using the same credentials you use for your FOID card account. Navigate to the assault weapons endorsement section.[3]
Step 3: Complete the Affidavit
The endorsement affidavit requires you to attest under penalty of law that:
- You possessed the listed assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge before January 10, 2023, inherited it from a person with an endorsement or authorized under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(e)(1) through (5), moved into Illinois after January 10, 2023 with the items, or are filing voluntarily as an exempt person
- The information you are providing (make, model, serial number) is accurate
- You affirm under oath that the statements in the endorsement affidavit are true and correct
Step 4: Submit the Affidavit
Submit the completed affidavit electronically through the ISP portal. There is no fee for submitting the endorsement affidavit.
Step 5: Confirmation
The ISP retains endorsement affidavit records under the State Records Act (20 Ill. Adm. Code 1230.15(g)). Keep a copy of your submission for your records.
Possession Rules After Registration
Registering your assault weapon through the endorsement affidavit does not restore full possession privileges. Grandfathered items may only be possessed in the following locations:[4]
- On private property you own or immediately control
- On another person's private property not open to the public, with the express permission of the person who owns or immediately controls it
- On the premises of a licensed firearms dealer or gunsmith for lawful repair
- While engaged in legal use at a properly licensed firing range or sport shooting competition venue
- During transport between these locations, the firearm must be unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container
An endorsement does not authorize unrestricted public carry, but it permits lawful use at a properly licensed firing range or sport shooting competition venue and unloaded, enclosed transport to or from authorized locations. Transfers are limited under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d) to a federally licensed dealer, an individual residing in another state maintaining the item in another state, or an heir by inheritance. Except for a transfer to an heir, the transferor must notify the ISP of the transferee's name and address within 10 days and comply with subsection (b) of Section 3 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. The person to whom the weapon or ammunition is transferred must complete the required affidavit within 60 days.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Unless a statutory exception applies, knowingly possessing an assault weapon in violation of PICA carries the following penalties.[1]
- First offense: Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail, up to $2,500 fine)
- Subsequent offenses: Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years in prison)
Providing false information on the endorsement affidavit is a separate criminal offense.
What If the Law Changes
PICA is currently the subject of multiple federal lawsuits. In November 2024, a federal district court ruled the bans unconstitutional, but the Seventh Circuit stayed that ruling and then reversed it on July 9, 2026, upholding PICA. The law remains in full effect, and compliance is mandatory. The U.S. Supreme Court scheduled argument for December 2, 2026 after granting certiorari on June 30, 2026 in Viramontes v. Cook County, consolidated with Grant v. Higgins, a case about AR-15 platform rifles whose outcome could affect PICA, but nothing is enjoined while it is pending. Monitor the ISP's assault weapons page for updates.[5]