Is there a way that a visitor can bring a gun to Illinois?

[Geckgo]

Okay, I grew up there, and I've read the state police website, which is little to no help whatsoever. I may be traveling to NY and Illiois on vacation in the next couple of weeks. I know that I'm protected under federal commerce to "drive through" a state with my firearms locked in the trunk of the car. In Illinois (when you stop to stay there, not just passing through) you are required to have a FOID card to posses a firearm. Does staying at a hotel for a couple days qualify as "passing through" under the federal statute? Probably not? So, if I want to visit family for a few days, is there a way that I can bring my .45 to show to my old man, or I just have to wait till he comes to visit me?

 

[wishin]

Leave it home. Illinois gun laws are very strict and anti-gun. see:

http://www.handgunlaw.us

 

[atlctyslkr]

Bring it, show it to your dad, leave it in his house until you leave, then drive home. In other words just don't drive around while you are there with it. I would think a car packed with luggage would look like you were passing through.

 

[Geckgo]

Thanks Wishin, I have a copy of that map on my zip drive. It's nice to see that the yellow is dissappearing from the map. I was planning on leaving the gun at home, but wondering if anyone had heard anything. Wife and I are both very strict about following the letter of the law as close as possible, even when nobody is looking. I can shoot my old man's 380 but we could potentially have issues if I bring my XD. Brady should have been tough on .22 handguns and left everything else alone, hehehehe.

 

[wishin]

If you are a gambler, the odds are with you that there won't be a problem, but what a way to potentially ruin a vacation. If you read through Illinois gun law, I think you'll agree that it's not worth taking the chance.

 

[Davey Wavey]

My brother and sister in-law brought a few guns while visiting. They are from West Virginia. Plans were to go down to the range to do some shooting. I was never worried as I would always be with the guns (from the Chicago airport, my house, to the range, back to the airport) and my FOID.

If the old-man has a FOID you should be fine at his home. As for being at the hotel, I'll try to find an answer for you.

Edit: Okay try here. There should be a few that apply to you.
http://www.isp.state.il.us/docs/1-154.pdf

 

[Geckgo]

Wow! Thanks Davey. When I saw the address I thought it was going to be that dumb page about acquiring a foid card again (people in illinois always point me to that page). That was both helpful and informative, thank you.. I'm starting to think about bringing the .45 now I had it almost ingrained from growing up in that state that there was no way for me to get it there. Guess I can leave it with dad while we are there and take it with us when we go Now I just have to convince the wife

 

[Geckgo]

Now I need to look up the stuff for NY, as I know that they too have restrictive laws, especially with "handguns". Why do the wife and I have to come from two of the most restrictive gun states in the US? heheheh.

-edit
Yea, I think my 13 rnd mags alone are enough to cause me problems in NY if we stay the night there to see her mama. Foiled again. Oh well. If I take a trip to see my dad and we are NOT going to NY, at least I know where I stand thanks again for all of the help guys.

 

[mstrat]

Wow... There's a lot of misinformation here.

You do not need to leave your firearms home.

You do not need to leave them at somebody else's house.

You do not need (and in fact cannot get) a FOID card.

Please see this flyer from the IL state police:
http://isp.state.il.us/docs/1-154.pdf

Here's a section of interest:

They preface this with "if coming to hunt.." but these guidelines are not exclusive to hunting. There are two laws that apply, the criminal code (UUW) and the Wildlife code - neither one stipulates that you must be here hunting.

Non-residents must be legally eligible to possess or acquire firearms and ammunition in their state of residence. It is recommended that in order to be in compliance with all statutes, non-residents transport all firearms:
1. Unloaded, and 2. Enclosed in a case, and 3. Not immediately accessible or broken down in a
nonfunctioning state.

That's all you need to do.
1) Keep it in a case (it does not need to be locked, you can even keep the ammo in there loaded in magazines if you want)
2) Keep it unloaded
3) keep it out of arms reach when you're driving (this is not required per state law, but some towns (Chicago, Oak Park) have harsher requirements in which this is required),

 

[Geckgo]

right on mstrat, that is the same pamphlet that Davey linked to. I found it quite informative. My sis is dating an ex St. Louis LEO and even he didn't have the info together on it. I think he's just happy that he lives in Missouri, hehehe. Yes I will not attempt Chicago or NY city at all. First the mobsters messed everything up, then Brady, bloody mess over there in Illinois. Kind of glad I moved before I started buying firearms. I remember some of the "rules" that we all grew up hearing about and nowadays it makes me sick. I thought everyone in the US needed a foid card at one point, hehehehehe.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

CCW from your state not allowed there.

Thanks mstrat

 

[belercous]

+1 to Mstrat, except that under Illinois law, the ammo must be kept seperate from the weapon, unless unreachable {meaning not in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, not out of literally out of arm's reach. The trunk or bed of a truck is "unreachable." The back seat of a passenger vehicle is "reachable" under Illinois case law.}
I drive to Missouri often, where I am permitted to carry. I keep a .38 snubbie in a small cooler, zipped, in the backseat. My ammo is in the console. I am perfectly legal in Illinois. Putting both togerther would make me a crimminal.
You'll be fine under the reciprocity laws if you obey Illinois law, no FOID needed.

 

[mstrat]

Carrying the ammo separate from the firearm may have been required at some time in the past, but it is not currently required.

Check the ISP flyer linked above. They outright say it's OK to have the ammo and firearm in the same enclosed container.

I keep loaded magazines in the case right next to my pistol.

Edit: From the flyer, to save a click (emphasis added):

HOW CAN I LEGALLY TRANSPORT OR POSSESS AMMUNITION?
Illinois law requires residents possessing ammunition have a valid FOID card. The location of ammunition being transported, including ammunition being transported in loaded magazines, is not regulated if the firearm is possessed or transported lawfully.

IS IT LEGAL TO HAVE AMMUNITION IN THE CASE WITH THE FIREARM?
Yes, as long as the firearm is unloaded and properly enclosed in a case.

 

[Tomcat47]

I would work on moving my dad OUT OF ILLINOIS!

But thats just me.....

I told my wife that if my state ever went anti-gun to start looking for another place to live....get those travel "our state" guides but first make a list of PRO-GUN states and start there!

 

[Birdmang]

Yes you can keep a loaded magazine in the same case right next to the firearm, it just cannot be in the mag well.

Also what if you have a station wagon or a pickup truck, and don't really have a trunk?

I have always put mine in the back seat in a case.

 

[mstrat]

Yes you can keep a loaded magazine in the same case right next to the firearm, it just cannot be in the mag well.

Also what if you have a station wagon or a pickup truck, and don't really have a trunk?

I have always put mine in the back seat in a case.

IL doesn't regulate it - you can have it (edit: the closed case) on the seat next to you. HOWEVER... some localities can further regulate it.

I drive a little hatchback, so have the exact same concern. And every day I have to drive through Oak Park and Chicago (coincidentally the only two places I know of with transportation restrictions - though Oak Park's has an exception if you're not starting or ending in their town), so I've started throwing my bag in the farthest rear of the vehicle when passing through.

 

[Blackbeard]

O M G This comes up about every week around here. Maybe we should think about making it a sticky. Let me say this for what I know won't be the last time:

YES you can bring your guns.
NO you can't transport them loaded.
NO you don't need a FOID card if you're not a resident.

Any questions? See above.

 

[SundownRider]

And for Pete's sake, stop telling us to move out of Illinois. If we could, don't you think we would?
Illinois is a great state with a lot of great and interesting history and people. It's the politicians that have made it what it is, and we all know they stopped representing us a long time ago.

Bring your gun, and don't do anything that would cause any LEO to take a second look at you.