Moving to Chicago area and don't want to sell my Glock!

[WutUpGeez]

I've grown up in "downstate" Illinois(the REAL Illinois)my whole life and I'm going to relocate to the Chicago area(unwillingly!).

It's not a problem in my eyes(or the constitutions!)but Chicago doesn't allow handguns. I own a Glock 17 and would hate to part with it.

I'd like to possibly live in the suburbs, as long as there is public transportation nearby. Can any of you suggest a place that is gun friendly around Chicago that also has convenient public transportation into the city?

 

[Deanimator]

There's always Indiana, if public transportation isn't mandatory.

 

[Rmeju]

A lot of the burbs have convenient train access into the city, but I can only personally speak for the northern ones. I *think* there's even a train that goes all the way up to Kenosha, WI, which probably has waaaaaay friendlier laws than anywhere else you're going to find, unless you want to move to North Bend, IN, which might also have train access, but I don't know. You could even get a carry permit there. I couldn't tell you the ride times.

Few suburbs are gun 'friendly' but some haven't bothered to take any affirmative steps to ban handguns. Others have restrictions (such as registration in Highland Park or a discretionary-issue permit to purchase in Evanston). By law, each city is supposed to put any local gun laws into the ISP database so they can publish them in a central location on the ISP website. Not all of them do this and it almost got me into very serious trouble in Vernon Hills once. What recourse I could have had because they didn't post the law, I don't know, but I can guarantee it would have cost a lot of money to even find out. I'd still go check out the ISP site, though.

The decision in McDonald is going to come down from the supreme court within a month, and people seem to agreed that it will result in the Chicago ban being struck down, but expect the mayor to drag his feet, implement dracoinan restrictions that weren't at issue in the case, or just plain ignore the ruling for as long as he's able.

Trust me, it'd hardly be the first law he's broken.

Good luck

RmeJu

 

[rikman]

Just avoid Cook Co. There are plenty of nice suburbs off of the Metra. Kane Co, McHenry Co. DuPage all about 45-60 Metra ride to Union Station.

There are plenty of gun ranges,clubs and you can get supplies like ammo shipped to your home if you buy on the net. AND you avoid 10.25% Daley Cook Co. sales tax.

Feel free to pm if you'd like specific info

Rikman

 

[MisterMike]

I live in Naperville, about 30 miles west of the Loop, and it's an easy commute into the city. Wherever you end, up I'd suggest that you look at accessibility to mass transit; my Metra ride into the city takes about 30 minutes, faster than many who live in Chicago.

I doubt if things in Chicago will change drastically, even assuming a win in McDonald, but I would definitely suggest staying out of Chicago and Cook County, as both entities have serious anti-gun laws. Here in DuPage County, things are considerably less nutty, and you'll find generally that the further you get away from Cook County the more sane the politics.

 

[c-bag]

Have you thought about NW Indiana?

http://www.nictd.com/systemmap.html

The South Shore Line covers the whole of the Indiana shoreline with Lake Michigan and then some. Lots of people use this line to commute to Chicago daily, if they didn't it wouldn't exist. Some of the towns you probably don't want to live in (i.e. Gary) but others are very nice (look towards Porter County). From the Portage station to Millennium Station downtown Chicago is a little over an hour. Monthly pass under $200, seems like a lot but figure what it would cost to commute from a suburb and check the relative cost of living it may make sense.

But back to the topic at hand, Indiana gun laws are much friendlier than Illinois IMO. No FOID needed, shall issue handgun licences for $75 with no training class and very few restrictions on carry, etc.

Or to put it this way: http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/IN

Indiana scores a whopping 6 on a 0 to 100 scale

 

[stonecutter2]

Aurora/Naperville area is where I'm from. close enough to the city without the hassle.

 

[MisterMike]

Have you thought about NW Indiana?
http://www.nictd.com/systemmap.html

The South Shore Line covers the whole of the Indiana shoreline with Lake Michigan and then some. Lots of people use this line to commute to Chicago daily, if they didn't it wouldn't exist. Some of the towns you probably don't want to live in (i.e. Gary) but others are very nice (look towards Porter County). From the Portage station to Millennium Station downtown Chicago is a little over an hour. Monthly pass under $200, seems like a lot but figure what it would cost to commute from a suburb and check the relative cost of living it may make sense.

But back to the topic at hand, Indiana gun laws are much friendlier than Illinois IMO. No FOID needed, shall issue handgun licences for $75 with no training class and very few restrictions on carry, etc.

Or to put it this way: http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/IN

Indiana scores a whopping 6 on a 0 to 100 scale

Yes, this is worth considering, depending on how important your gun rights are to you. In the Illinois collar counties you'll find that--with the exception of a couple of North Shore towns that have experimented with handgun bans--your rights are the same as in "downstate."

A couple of the people in my office live in Indiana and take the South Shore to work. In my view, their commutes are pretty long. However, as pointed out above, the attitude toward guns is markedly different. Also, while prices throughout the metro area vary greatly, there are some pretty affordable towns in Indiana.

 

[MisterMike]

Have you thought about NW Indiana?
http://www.nictd.com/systemmap.html
But back to the topic at hand, Indiana gun laws are much friendlier than Illinois IMO. No FOID needed, shall issue handgun licences for $75 with no training class and very few restrictions on carry, etc.

Or to put it this way: http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/IN

Indiana scores a whopping 6 on a 0 to 100 scale

Yes, this is worth considering, depending on how important your gun rights are to you. In the Illinois collar counties you'll find that--with the exception of a couple of North Shore towns that have experimented with handgun bans--your rights are the same as in "downstate."

A couple of the people in my office live in Indiana and take the South Shore to work. In my view, their commutes are pretty long. However, as pointed out above, the attitude toward guns is markedly different. Also, while prices throughout the metro area vary greatly, there are some pretty affordable towns in Indiana.

 

[WutUpGeez]

I'm going to stay in Illinois for now. The Naperville area does sound appealing. What about lake county? I wouldn't mind living up near the Wisconsin/Illinois border either.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Does this apply only to the Chicago city limits? If not, you could set up your residence outside of them.

 

[rikman]

Lake Co AFAIK is ok. Nice towns, Never seen gun supply companies reference them , only Chicago & Cook Co. Lake Co towns like Waukegan,Antioch,Richmond are close to nice ranges like McMillers in Wisc.