Endorsement Affidavit:
Registering Pre-Owned Assault Weapons

The Protect Illinois Communities Act created a registration framework for assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, and .50 caliber rifles and cartridges that were lawfully possessed before the ban took effect on January 10, 2023. This framework, known as the endorsement affidavit process, is administered by the Illinois State Police Firearms Services Bureau and serves as the mechanism by which owners of pre-ban items retain legal possession under PICA's grandfathering provisions.^[1]

What the Endorsement Affidavit Requires

Unless exempt under PICA, an individual owner must submit an endorsement affidavit to the ISP to retain lawful possession of a pre-ban assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, or .50 caliber rifle or cartridge. The ISP states that business-owned assault weapons are not expressly required to be endorsed, though a business may submit an affidavit voluntarily. Large-capacity magazines are grandfathered without registration and do not appear on the affidavit (720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(d)). The affidavit must include:^[1]

• The owner's FOID card number, when available, with no FOID card required for an affidavit covering only assault weapon attachments
• The make, model, caliber, and serial number of each assault weapon or .50 caliber rifle
• A sworn statement that the items were possessed before January 10, 2023

For an owner who has a FOID card, the endorsement is linked to that card. If the FOID card is revoked or suspended, ISP advises surrendering the assault weapon to law enforcement for safekeeping to retain ownership until the card can be reinstated. Once an assault weapon is transferred, PICA prohibits its transfer back unless the individual is exempt.

Submission Deadline

The statutory deadline for endorsement affidavit submission was January 1, 2024, as established under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d).^[2] Owners who failed to submit by this date face potential legal consequences for possessing unregistered assault weapons. The ISP's online portal continues to accept submissions after the deadline, but ISP warns that the relevant jurisdiction could deem a late endorsement affidavit invalid or insufficient.

Post-Deadline Enforcement and Late Filings

According to the ISP, the FOID Portal "will remain open for individuals to complete an affidavit indefinitely."^[1] This means that individuals who missed the January 1, 2024 deadline may still submit an endorsement affidavit through the ISP Firearms Services Bureau portal at ispfsb.com.

However, the ISP has stated that "there are not separate fines or penalties for late submissions," but has added an important caveat: "the relevant jurisdiction could deem a late endorsement affidavit submittal to be invalid or insufficient."^[1] A late submission remains subject to ISP's warning that the relevant jurisdiction could deem it invalid or insufficient.

The ISP has stated it will partner with local law enforcement through the Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force to enforce PICA, and that persons who violate PICA requirements "may be arrested and charged."^[1] Individuals who have not yet filed can still submit through the ISP portal, but the relevant jurisdiction could deem a late endorsement affidavit invalid or insufficient.

Compliance Rates

ISP reports that 29,357 individuals completed affidavits from October 1 through December 31, 2023, before the January 1, 2024 statutory deadline.^[3] ISP's county dashboard lists approximately 2.56 million FOID cards but does not identify how many holders possess items covered by PICA.

How to Submit

The endorsement affidavit is submitted electronically through the ISP Firearms Services Bureau portal. The ISP created a dedicated section on its website for assault weapons registration at isp.illinois.gov/Home/AssaultWeapons. The owner must sign in to the Firearms Services Bureau Applicant Portal and enter the required information for each item. A FOID card is not required when the affidavit covers only assault weapon attachments. There is no fee for submitting the endorsement affidavit. The ISP lists open kiosks in central and southern Illinois for in-person assistance, with the northern Illinois and Collinsville locations closed until further notice.^[1]

Effect of the Endorsement

A completed endorsement affidavit allows the owner to continue possessing the registered assault weapons, subject to the possession restrictions established by PICA. Grandfathered large-capacity magazines are lawful to retain without any affidavit. Under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d), an endorsed assault weapon may be transferred only to a federally licensed firearms dealer, an individual residing in another state maintaining it in another state, or an heir, including an in-state heir (24-1.9(d)(2)(ii)). For transfers other than to an heir, the transferor must notify ISP of the transferee's name and address within 10 days and comply with 430 ILCS 65/3(b). The transferee must complete the required affidavit within 60 days. Other in-state transfers to private individuals are prohibited unless a statutory exemption applies, including transfers to persons authorized under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(e)(1) through (7).^[4]

Impact of Ongoing Litigation

The endorsement affidavit requirement exists within the context of active federal litigation challenging PICA's constitutionality. In Barnett v. Raoul, a federal district court issued a permanent injunction against the assault weapons and magazine bans on November 8, 2024, but the Seventh Circuit stayed that injunction on December 5, 2024. Oral argument at the Seventh Circuit was held in September 2025, and on July 9, 2026 the court upheld PICA 2-1, reversing the district court's injunction and directing judgment for the defendants. Unless exempt under PICA, owners of pre-ban items remain legally required to submit an endorsement affidavit. 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, on whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee the right to possess AR-15 platform and similar semiautomatic rifles, and PICA remains enforceable while that case is pending.^[5]

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Unless a statutory exemption applies, knowingly possessing an assault weapon without a valid endorsement affidavit is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 3 felony for subsequent offenses. The ISP states that it is authorized to use LEADS to communicate to law enforcement whether a person has submitted an endorsement affidavit.^[6]

See also: How to Register a Pre-Owned Assault Weapon (Endorsement Affidavit)

See also: Possession Restrictions for Grandfathered Assault Weapons

See also: PICA Compliance: What Firearms Are Still Legal in Illinois