Schoenthal v. Raoul: Supreme Court Denies Cert, Illinois Transit Carry Ban Final

On April 6, 2026, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari in Schoenthal v. Raoul, ending a challenge to Illinois' prohibition on carrying concealed firearms aboard public transportation. The denial leaves in place the Seventh Circuit's September 2025 ruling upholding 430 ILCS 66/65(a)(8), the provision of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act that bars licensed carriers from transit facilities ^[1].

The Case

Four Illinois concealed carry license holders filed suit in federal district court arguing that the transit ban violated the Second Amendment under New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The plaintiffs, represented in part by Firearms Policy Coalition, argued that there was no historical tradition of prohibiting firearms on common carriers at the time of the Founding ^[2].

The district court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, holding 430 ILCS 66/65(a)(8) unconstitutional. On appeal, the Seventh Circuit reversed in September 2025, upholding the transit ban under Bruen's "sensitive places" framework. The appellate panel held that the transit prohibition fit within a historical tradition of regulating firearms in "sensitive places" and that publicly funded transit systems qualified under Bruen's framework ^[3].

The Supreme Court Denial

The plaintiffs filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court, docketed as case 25-541. On April 6, 2026, the Court denied the petition without comment or recorded dissent. The denial is final; the plaintiffs have no further avenue of direct appeal ^[4].

What This Means for Illinois CCL Holders

The prohibition on carrying a concealed firearm on CTA, Metra, Pace, and any other publicly funded transit system in Illinois is now settled law. A CCL holder who enters a transit facility with a concealed firearm commits a Class B misdemeanor (first offense) or Class A misdemeanor (subsequent offenses), subject to forfeiture of the firearm and possible revocation of the carry license.

The ruling does not affect non-public transit, rideshare vehicles, or the transportation of unloaded, cased firearms under the separate transportation provisions of 430 ILCS 66. Riders should continue to consult 430 ILCS 66/65 for the full list of prohibited locations.

Broader Context

Schoenthal is one of several Bruen-era challenges to state sensitive-places laws to reach the Supreme Court. The denial of certiorari suggests the Court is not yet prepared to address the constitutionality of transit-specific carry prohibitions. Similar challenges in other circuits may still be pending, but for Illinois the question is resolved.