Shooting on private property

[Ruger GP100 fan]

I just read through Illinois' gun laws and cannot find anything about shooting on private property owned by another person and invited to do so. It just mentions shooting at public and private land that has an established target range organized by a club. Can anyone tell me if I'd be legal target shooting with a handgun on a friend's farm at his invitation?

 

[crossrhodes]

I would think that would have to do with the zoning/city limit thing and how anti gun the county is. One horror story: Same situation, a friend was invited to shoot at a friends small farm "not in city limits" and he was ticketed by a game warden (after neighbors reported hearing gunshots) for violating the law of discharging a firearm with in 500 feet of a building....the building was on the owner's property and it was a dilapidated old barn no longer being used. The owner was also ticketed. They both had to go to court over it and it was eventually thrown out....but it cost them $$$ in legal fees. This was in the state of Mass.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Can anyone tell me if I'd be legal target shooting with a handgun on a friend's farm at his invitation?

As I understand Illinois's "Home Rule" system you would need to check the specific city and county ordinances to know for sure.

It can vary literally from town to town.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

after neighbors reported hearing gunshots

This is getting to be a problem here because of people who have moved into our area from other parts of the country(usually but not always from north of the Mason/Dixon Line).Long time residents here would just join the fun.

violating the law of discharging a firearm with in 500 feet of a building....the building was on the owner's property and it was a dilapidated old barn no longer being used.

Now that's just messed up!

 

[belercous]

In Madison County (in unincorporated areas) the Sheriff will not do anything if the Gun is being fired in a safe direction (kinda subjective, I know) and is at least 150' from a neighboring structure.
Now, if you are shooting high-powered rifles, but within those parameters, if a neighbor keeps complaining they can/will cite you for disturbing the peace. Whether they win in court is another matter. That would be a question for a jury to decide.

 

[MaterDei]

I'm really not trying to be critical at all but as a Texas resident I find this whole conversation very disturbing, and quite frankly somewhat scary. It serves as a warning to me to be ever vigilant; that I shouldn't take my rights for granted and that even in the USA, gun laws like these can exist.

 

[toivo]

One horror story: Same situation, a friend was invited to shoot at a friends small farm "not in city limits" and he was ticketed by a game warden (after neighbors reported hearing gunshots) for violating the law of discharging a firearm with in 500 feet of a building....the building was on the owner's property and it was a dilapidated old barn no longer being used. The owner was also ticketed. They both had to go to court over it and it was eventually thrown out....but it cost them $$$ in legal fees. This was in the state of Mass.

That is seriously messed up. New York has the 500-foot rule too, but it doesn't apply if it's your own land or you have the owner's permission.

 

[Art Eatman]

Since this is an Illinois question, the laws of other states are irrelevant. Save the bandwidth.