Illinois Gun Ranges...

[jcalys]

I'm pretty new to firearms, and don't own a gun yet (waiting for my economic stimulus check). I've only been shooting (handguns) for a few months. When I shoot, I shoot friends guns, or go to a local rental range.

I've been telling a buddy who lives in Chicago how fun and therapeutic it is just putting holes in paper at the range. He and some buddies decided to give it a try. He found a range that rented handguns and called them. They told him he had to get a firearm ID card of sorts just to handle guns, much less rent, shoot or buy a firearm. This card, he was told, would take eight weeks to acquire. Seemed strange to me. I know Illinois is a"blue state" and Chicago has some restrictive gun laws, but this to me seemed excessive.

Here in Missouri I've been to a Missouri Dept. of Conservation range where they just held onto your ID while you shot and assigned you a lane. At a local indoor range I filled out and signed some paperwork saying I read/understood the range rules. They keep the paperwork on file so I don't have fill it out on future visits.

Anyway my friend's story really bothered me, seems like a barracade for new shooters and for firearm related commerce.

Was my friend informed correctly? Why all the crazy laws just for handling or renting a gun to try?

 

[Picard]

Yup, it's true. You even need a Firearm Owner ID to handle firearms in a gun shop. It's pretty ridiculous. Your friend can go with someone who does have a FOID card and shoot.

He should apply for one ASAP as it does take about 30 days to get. Then he doesn't have to jump through all of those hoops to shoot at the local range.

 

[Gator]

Illinois registers gun owners, despite the fact that the FOID program has had zero impact on crime and operates at a financial loss. What a great state!

 

[jcalys]

This is really a shame to me. As a younger guy (25) who was raised in the suburbs, I never shot as a child. My dad, friends, and extended family never hunted or shot extensively, if at all. Getting into firearms on my own has been kind of intimidating. Too bad state governments go and make the barricades to entry even higher for responsible citizens.

Are there any other states in the Midwest that have overly restrictive guns laws? Especially interested in Kansas.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[scout26]

Too bad state governments go and make the barricades to entry even higher for responsible citizens.

You cracked the code......

 

[DonP]

FWIW, two of my girls got their FOID cards in two weeks from the date we mailed it and the other daughter took 8 weeks, all mailed at the same time, but two weeks is definitely the exception.

My wife's renewal took the normal 6 weeks.

There was a longer wait about a year back because Blago had reduced the number of Illinois State Police that work on the program by half.

(He hates guns and gun owners in general and probably needed the troopers to ferry his latest girlfriend around anyway.)

A judge finally issued an injunction forcing him to assign staff to process all FOID applications in an "expeditiious manner". Now they go through pretty quickly.

The only exception is if you are shooting on private property not owned by an FFL at a range like The Buffalo Range and your friends bring the guns and ammunition.

Like most other state programs it's pointless, loses money and has the potential for massive abuse ... now tell me again why I want these people running my health care too?