Duty to Inform and CCL Holder Obligations

No Affirmative Duty to Inform

Illinois does not impose an affirmative duty on CCL holders to volunteer that they are carrying a concealed firearm during a routine encounter with law enforcement.^[1] Illinois uses a "duty to disclose upon request" model. During an investigative stop, including a traffic stop, a CCL holder carrying a concealed firearm must disclose possession or present the CCL upon the officer's request.^[1]

Duty to Disclose Upon Request

During an investigative stop, including a traffic stop, a CCL holder carrying a concealed firearm must satisfy an officer's disclosure request by doing either of the following.^[1]

• Truthfully disclose that they are carrying a concealed firearm
• Present their Concealed Carry License, which satisfies the disclosure requirement

A CCL holder carrying a concealed firearm who neither discloses possession nor presents the CCL upon an officer's request during an investigative stop violates the Act. A violation is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense under 430 ILCS 66/70(e), with a mandatory $150 fee deposited into the Mental Health Reporting Fund on conviction. The ISP may suspend the license for up to 6 months for a second violation.^[1]

Carrying Credentials

A CCL holder carrying a concealed firearm during an investigative stop may present the CCL to satisfy an officer's disclosure request. Under 430 ILCS 65/2(c-5), a licensee who is in possession of their CCL satisfies the FOID card possession requirement, so no statute requires carrying both cards at once.^[2] Failure to satisfy the disclosure requirement during an investigative stop is a violation separate from the underlying carry authority.

Conduct During Law Enforcement Encounters

During an investigative stop, the Act requires disclosure of concealed firearm possession or presentation of the CCL upon the officer's request. The following list also includes practical safety advice.^[1]

• During an investigative stop, disclose concealed firearm possession or present the CCL upon request
• Do not reach for or touch the firearm unless directed to do so by the officer
• Present the CCL if using it to satisfy the disclosure requirement (under 430 ILCS 65/2(c-5), possession of the CCL satisfies the FOID card requirement)
• Upon the officer's request during an investigative stop, identify the location of the concealed firearm and permit the officer to safely secure it for the duration of the stop. During other contacts, submit to an order to secure the firearm when the officer determines it is necessary for the safety of any person present.

Training courses required under 430 ILCS 66/75 include instruction on proper conduct during law enforcement interactions, covering both legal obligations and practical safety recommendations.^[3]

CCL Revocation and Suspension

The Act provides for CCL suspension or revocation in the following circumstances.^[1]

• The holder no longer meets the eligibility requirements of the Act, which requires revocation
• The holder's FOID card is revoked, which requires CCL revocation. If the FOID card expires during the CCL term, both remain valid under Section 70(h-5)
• The holder becomes subject to a pending arrest warrant, prosecution or proceeding that could lead to disqualification to own or possess a firearm, which requires revocation
• The holder has a second violation subject to Section 70(e), which permits suspension for up to 6 months, or three or more violations of Section 65, which require permanent revocation
• The holder has a mental condition posing a clear and present danger to themselves, another person or the community, which makes them ineligible for a FOID card and requires CCL revocation

Upon revocation, the holder must surrender their CCL to the local law enforcement agency where they reside within 48 hours of receiving notice. The 48-hour surrender timeline is a standalone Concealed Carry Act provision, 430 ILCS 66/70(g), which requires surrender to the local law enforcement agency where the licensee resides. Failure to surrender a revoked CCL is a Class A misdemeanor.^[1][6]

Additional Holder Obligations

Change of Address

A CCL holder must notify the ISP within 30 days of a change of address. Failure to report an address change is a petty offense carrying a $150 fine under 430 ILCS 66/55(c).^[2]

Loss or Theft of CCL

If a CCL is lost, stolen or destroyed, the holder must notify the ISP within 10 days of discovering it. A replacement request requires a written or electronic acknowledgment that the license was lost, destroyed or stolen, a copy of a police report if applicable and the required fee. A lost, destroyed, or stolen license is invalid. A licensee shall possess a license while carrying a concealed firearm, and an electronic version that meets ISP requirements satisfies that duty. Section 10(g) provides exceptions on the licensee's land, in their abode, legal dwelling or fixed place of business, and on another person's land or in their legal dwelling as an invitee with permission. It also excepts a person authorized under Section 24-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012 other than subsection (a-5), and a handgun that is broken down in a non-functioning state, is not immediately accessible, or is unloaded and enclosed in a case.^[2]

Alcohol and Controlled Substances

A CCL holder is prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or intoxicating compounds under the standards incorporated by 430 ILCS 66/70(d) from 625 ILCS 5/11-501(a). Those standards include an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more in blood, another bodily substance or breath, and influence of drugs or intoxicating compounds to a degree that renders the person incapable of driving safely.^[4]