In short, revolvers, semiautomatic pistols without the listed features, bolt-action, lever-action and pump-action rifles, semiautomatic rifles without prohibited features, and pump-action and break-action shotguns can still be bought in Illinois if they are not otherwise classified as assault weapons or .50 caliber rifles under PICA. Subject to statutory exemptions, PICA bars new sales and purchases of listed models, semiautomatic firearms with prohibited features, assault weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, .50 caliber cartridges and rapid-fire devices, and generally of new magazines over 10 rounds for rifles or 15 rounds for handguns.
The Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), signed into law on January 10, 2023, as Public Act 102-1116, banned the sale and acquisition of certain semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines in Illinois. However, many common firearms remain fully legal to buy, own, and use. This guide explains what is and is not permitted under PICA.[1]
Firearms That Are Still Legal
PICA targets specific categories of semiautomatic firearms based on features and named models. The following types of firearms are not affected by the ban:
Handguns
- Revolvers of all calibers
- Semiautomatic pistols that are not otherwise classified as assault weapons, have no fixed magazine holding more than 15 rounds, and, if they accept or may be readily modified to accept a detachable magazine, have none of the prohibited features (including threaded barrels, barrel shrouds other than a slide enclosing the barrel, or second pistol grips)
- Single-shot pistols
Rifles
- Bolt-action rifles, unless they meet PICA's separate definition of a .50 caliber rifle
- Lever-action rifles, unless they meet PICA's separate definition of a .50 caliber rifle
- Pump-action rifles, unless they meet PICA's separate definition of a .50 caliber rifle
- Semiautomatic rifles with fixed magazines that hold 10 rounds or fewer and that are not otherwise classified as assault weapons or .50 caliber rifles
- Semiautomatic rifles that accept or may be readily modified to accept detachable magazines, have none of the prohibited features, and are not otherwise classified as assault weapons or .50 caliber rifles. Prohibited features include a pistol grip or thumbhole stock, a protruding grip for the non-trigger hand, a folding, telescoping, detachable or otherwise size-reducing or concealability-enhancing stock, a grenade launcher, a flash suppressor, or a barrel shroud that allows the non-trigger hand to hold the firearm without being burned, excluding a slide enclosing the barrel
- Rimfire semiautomatic rifles (such as .22 LR) that do not have prohibited features, are not listed models or their covered variants, and do not have a fixed magazine holding more than 10 rounds unless it is an attached tubular device designed to accept and operate only with .22 caliber rimfire ammunition
Shotguns
- Pump-action shotguns without a revolving cylinder
- Break-action shotguns (single-shot and double-barrel)
- Semiautomatic shotguns without prohibited features that are not otherwise classified as assault weapons under PICA. Prohibited features for semiautomatic shotguns under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1)(F) include a pistol grip or thumbhole stock, a protruding grip for the non-trigger hand, a folding or thumbhole stock, a grenade launcher, a fixed magazine holding more than 5 rounds, and the capacity to accept a detachable magazine. A semiautomatic shotgun with any one of these features is classified as an assault weapon. Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder is a separate assault weapon category under subparagraph (E).[5]
What PICA Bans
PICA bans the sale, purchase, and manufacture of the following firearms and devices, subject to statutory exemptions.[1]
- Semiautomatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have one or more prohibited features
- Specific models listed by name, including AR-15 and AK-47 variants
- Semiautomatic pistols and shotguns with specified features. For semiautomatic shotguns, the features are listed in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1)(F), and any shotgun with a revolving cylinder is covered by subparagraph (E).[5]
- .50 caliber rifles and .50 BMG cartridges capable of being fired from a centerfire rifle, excluding permanently inert or permanently altered memorabilia or display items and shotgun ammunition
- Rapid-fire devices such as bump stocks and trigger cranks that are designed to and function to increase a semiautomatic firearm's rate of fire above its standard rate without the device
Magazine Capacity Limits
PICA restricts magazine capacity for new purchases:[1]
- Rifles generally have a 10-round magazine limit for new purchases, except for qualifying .22 rimfire tubular devices, lever-action tubular magazines, permanently inoperable devices, and transactions exempt under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(e) or (f).
- Handguns generally have a 15-round magazine limit for new purchases, except for qualifying .22 rimfire attached tubular devices, tubular magazines in lever-action firearms, permanently inoperable devices, and transactions exempt under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(e) or (f).
Magazines exceeding these limits that were lawfully possessed before January 10, 2023, may be retained under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(d). They may be possessed on private property the person owns or immediately controls, on private property not open to the public with express permission, at a licensed dealer or gunsmith for lawful repair, or during lawful use at a properly licensed firing range or sport shooting competition venue. During travel to or from those places, they must be unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container. No registration or endorsement affidavit is required for magazines (720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(d)). New large-capacity magazines generally cannot be purchased or sold in Illinois, subject to the exemptions in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(e) and (f).
Grandfathered Firearms
If you lawfully possessed an assault weapon before January 10, 2023, you may keep it under PICA's grandfathering provision if you submitted an endorsement affidavit to the ISP, unless a statutory exemption applies. Large-capacity magazines lawfully possessed before January 10, 2023, may be retained without a registration or endorsement affidavit, subject to the possession and transport restrictions in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(d). Section 24-1.9(d) required the endorsement affidavit before January 1, 2024, using the form and manner prescribed by ISP no later than October 1, 2023.[2]
Grandfathered firearms are subject to strict possession restrictions. They may only be possessed:
- On private property owned or immediately controlled by the person
- On 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 of the firearm at a properly licensed firing range or sport shooting competition venue
- During transport to and from these locations, unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container
Cook County and Local Ordinances
Under Section 13.1 of the FOID Card Act, a local assault weapons ordinance enacted on, before, or within 10 days after the 2013 amendment to that Act remains valid, so some local ordinances in Cook County may be stricter than PICA. The Illinois State Police publishes the firearm ordinances that municipalities have submitted under 430 ILCS 65/13.3. Check local ordinances in your area, as a firearm compliant with state law may still be restricted locally.[3]
Active Litigation
PICA is the subject of multiple ongoing constitutional challenges in federal court. In November 2024, a federal district court ruled the bans unconstitutional, but the Seventh Circuit stayed that ruling pending appeal. On July 9, 2026, the Seventh Circuit upheld PICA 2-1 and reversed the district court judgments, directing the district court to enter judgments for the defendants. The U.S. Supreme Court is separately considering the constitutionality of AR-15 bans in Viramontes v. Cook County, consolidated with Grant v. Higgins, with argument scheduled for December 2, 2026 following the June 30, 2026 certiorari grant. The law remains in full effect. Gun owners should comply with current law regardless of pending court challenges.[4]
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Possession of a banned assault weapon without proper grandfathering is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense (up to 364 days in jail and up to $2,500 fine) and a Class 3 felony for subsequent offenses (2 to 5 years in prison). Knowingly selling or delivering an assault weapon or .50 caliber rifle in violation of Section 24-1.9 is a Class 3 felony.[1]