Driving through Chicago & Cook County

[USAF_Vet]

I know how to transport my guns, legally, in Illinois, and I know my Michigan CPL is not recognized. But I'm not going to stay in a hotel and not be armed.

The hotel is actually in St. Charles, so not inside Chicago and not inside Cook County, and the laws are different.

I'm considering just taking my regular carry pistol, but have also given thought to a shotgun or AR. I don't imagine St. Charles is a rough area, and I'm not going to do any tourist sight seeing in Chicago, so I figure a compact 9mm will be sufficient for any personal protection needs. Obviously, carry is out, and I'm sharing a rental car with a coworker, so keeping it in the car isn't ideal, but neither is leaving it in the hotel room, unless they have a safe.

A locking pistol case kept in my luggage might be an option if I have to keep it in the hotel.

Any ideas?

 

[Red Wind]

Sleep tight. No worries in St. Charles.

 

[SMMAssociates]

USAF Vet:

Unfortunately, the FOPA doesn't allow for overnight stays. It barely allows for pit stops, McD's, or fuel....

The "Firearms Owner's Protection Act" - locked, empty, in the trunk, ammunition separate - should allow lawful owners of firearms to transport them through areas where they might otherwise be prohibited. But "through" doesn't seem to permit any sort of "stop" in the involved State.

(I'm not sure what counts if you have a vehicle breakdown and have to stay someplace.)

The short answer, then, is "plan your travels to bypass the state".

The usual suggestion is to have your FFL send the gun to another FFL in your "next" State. YMMV, and you're "naked" for quite a while in some cases.

There probably are some other tricks, but since they're illegal, I won't talk about them.

Regards,

 

[USAF_Vet]

Stu, its a 3 day business trip for a training class in IL. None of my guns, to my knowledge, are banned in IL, which is my final destination. Once I hit the Indiana/ Illinois border, I can no longer have my loaded pistol on me. I don't plan on getting stopped in Chicago, and even if I do, any guns will be unloaded and stored in the trunk.

While staying in Illinois, I'm concerned about securing my firearm since I can't carry it on me. Guess the thread title is a bit misleading.

Red Wind, thanks. I figured it wasn't a bad area, by the research I've done.

 

[SMMAssociates]

USAF Vet:

I _think_ that an unlicensed "visitor" is not permitted to even have a gun with him, although I could be wrong about IL. (Definitely the case in NY.)

FOPA does (well, should) cover you "in transit" in other states, but it melts down if the "bad" state is your destination.

In short, having any handgun in your possession (doesn't matter if it's locked in the vehicle or carried, and loaded or not) is usually illegal in some states, regardless of "lists" and such.

Here in OH, you can Open Carry a handgun without any license, but it must be unloaded to have it in your vehicle, FOPA style.

Regards,

 

[oneounceload]

The usual suggestion is to have your FFL send the gun to another FFL in your "next" State

Why? He can't pick it up from a FFL out of his home state.

His best answer is to simply keep it in his hotel room safe (or one at the front desk) when not in his room for the night, transporting it in a legal manner

 

[HankB]

Some info . . .

http://www.isp.state.il.us/docs/ptfire.pdf

Looks like things have gotten worse since I left there . . .

 

[Gary Slider]

Problem with the document linked above it has George Homer Ryan listed as governor. He went out of office in 2003. I think that document is out of date and can't have the new laws in it.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

USAF VET:

You can carry in your vehicle on your out-of-state CCW. Unload it before leaving the vehicle--popping a loaded mag is A-OK in IL (don't forget a chambered round)--a loaded mag outside the well even in the same case still is unloaded in IL. Carry it cased and unloaded into your temporary place of residence (ie. hotel room) and do whatever you would deem prudent about loading or securing it. Please don't worry so much, this is IL and not NJ or elsewhere. All normal Title 1 firearms are A-OK in IL and are OK in St.Charles.

Armor piercing ammo (excepting via ATF designation as 'sporting uses' ss 109 'green tip' 5.56 and m2 AP in .30/06 which is allowed for in the IL law) is the only type of prohibited ammo except for some bizarre and exotic things like bolo, drangon's breath, and flachette rounds. So, apart from that you can have any type of carry ammo you like, and any size mag you like.

I worked in St. Charles for years--it is a VERY safe and mostly upscale area. As for keeping the pistol in the hotel while out or locking in say the car's trunk--you decide. You can carry in the car everywhere in the state--even in Chi and Cook Co.
My only advice would be not to needlessly display a weapon when moving it into the trunk/ unloading in the car, ect.

No worries and have a safe trip!

 

[Red Wind]

^ What Neo-Luddite said. He and Blackbeard are real gurus on Illinois gun law. As he said, stop worrying. I go to Mattoon to visit my niece at EIU every few years, carrying a handgun.

Never a problem. You'll be fine for your trip's duration.