Illinois imposes a mandatory 72-hour waiting period on all firearm purchases. No firearm may be delivered to a buyer until 72 hours have elapsed from the time the buyer applies to purchase the weapon. This "cooling off" period applies uniformly to handguns, rifles, and shotguns -- Illinois does not distinguish between firearm types for waiting period purposes.[1]
How the Waiting Period Works
The 72-hour clock begins when the buyer initiates the purchase process. For dealer sales, this is the moment the dealer submits the FTIP background check request to the Illinois State Police. For private transfers processed through a dealer, the clock starts at the same point. The dealer may not release the firearm to the buyer until a full 72 hours have passed, even if the background check returns an approval in minutes.[2]
The waiting period is measured in hours, not business days. A purchase initiated at 10:00 AM on a Monday means the firearm may be picked up no earlier than 10:00 AM on Thursday. Weekends and holidays are included in the 72-hour calculation.
Legislative History
Illinois has maintained some form of waiting period for decades. Before 2019, the state imposed a 72-hour waiting period for handguns but only a 24-hour waiting period for long guns (rifles and shotguns). Senate Bill 3256, signed into law in 2018 and effective January 1, 2019, eliminated this distinction by extending the 72-hour waiting period to all firearm types. The legislature cited studies suggesting that waiting periods reduce impulsive acts of violence, including suicides and homicides, regardless of the type of firearm involved.[3]
No Exceptions for Existing Owners
Unlike some states that waive waiting periods for buyers who hold a concealed carry permit or who can demonstrate existing firearm ownership, Illinois applies the 72-hour period to every purchase. A person buying their twentieth firearm waits the same 72 hours as a first-time buyer. The rationale is that the "cooling off" period serves a purpose on each transaction, not just the first one. Even holders of a valid Concealed Carry License must wait 72 hours to pick up a newly purchased firearm.[4]
Interaction with the FTIP Background Check
The waiting period and the background check are separate requirements that must both be satisfied before a firearm can be delivered. If the ISP approves the FTIP background check within minutes, the buyer still must wait the full 72 hours. Conversely, if the background check takes longer than 72 hours due to a delay, the buyer must wait until the ISP issues an approval. Both conditions -- elapsed waiting period and approved background check -- must be met before the dealer may release the firearm.[5]
Penalties
A dealer who delivers a firearm before the 72-hour waiting period has elapsed is guilty of a Class 4 felony under 720 ILCS 5/24-3(A), punishable by 1 to 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $25,000. The ISP may also take administrative action against the dealer's license. The penalty applies to the dealer, not the buyer, as the statutory obligation to withhold the firearm falls on the person making the delivery.[6]
See also: Buying a Rifle or Shotgun in Illinois
See also: First-Time Gun Buyer Guide for Illinois