Everyone who wants to carry a concealed firearm on his/her person in Illinois is required to have an Illinois Concealed Carry License except current peace officers and retired police officers eligible under a federally approved retired officer concealed carry program such as the Illinois Retired Officer Concealed Carry (IROCC) Program. Retired officers may be eligible to carry under either the IROCC Program or the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66).
What About Police Officers and Security Officers?
An individual who has been certified as a peace officer is exempt from all 16 hours of training required for the permit.
A certified, armed security officer who has been issued a “Firearm Control Card” is exempt from all 16 hours of training, required for the permit.
What are the qualifications for an Illinois Concealed Carry License?
The applicant must:
Be at least 21 years of age
Have a currently valid FOID card (if an Illinois resident)
Is not prohibited under federal law from possessing or receiving a firearm
Have not been convicted or found guilty in Illinois or any other state of:
A misdemeanor involving the use or threat of physical force or violence to any person within the last 5 years
2 or more violations related to driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof, within the last 5 years.
Not be the subject of a pending arrest warrant, prosecution, or proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification
Not have been in residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification, or drug treatment within the last 5 years
Submit a completed Concealed Carry License application
Successfully complete 16 hours of firearms training, including classroom and range instruction.
What is the cost for an Illinois Concealed Carry License?
$150 for 5 years for Illinois residents (plus IL Internet Fee)
$300 for 5 years for out-of-state residents(plus IL Internet Fee)
Currently, Illinois allows non-residents to obtain a concealed-carry license only if their home state has similar licensing laws to Illinois. Those states, which were evaluated according to five criteria, are limited to Hawaii, New Mexico, South Carolina and Virginia, according to the Illinois State Police.
How does a citizen apply for an Illinois Concealed Carry License?
The application is now available to the public on the ISP webpage. Additional information regarding the application and fingerprinting process have also been added to this website.
How long will it take a citizen to obtain an Illinois Concealed Carry License?
Upon receipt of a completed application, including fee, the ISP shall issue or deny the applicant an Illinois Concealed Carry License within 90 days, provided the applicant submits a full set of fingerprints in electronic format. If fingerprints are not submitted the ISP is granted an additional 30 days to complete a manual background check. In all cases, law enforcement agencies will have 30 days to file an objection once an application is received.
Illinois’ Concealed Carry Permit is honored in 26 states:
Upon completion of the Illinois course, you may use your obtained Illinois certificate to apply for non-resident permits from the following states: Florida and Arizona.
Even if your CCL is recognized in another state, you still need to know the restrictions in that state, such as:
• Whether you can carry it concealed, or if the firearm has to be carried openly • Whether an officer has to be notified during a traffic stop that you are carrying • What are the prohibited/restricted areas • Are there firearm restrictions such as a maximum magazine capacity or whether lasers are permitted
If your concealed carry license is not recognized in a particular state, then you still need to check the laws in that state with regards to transporting firearms, such as whether it can simply be locked in the trunk, or if it has to be unloaded and/or in a locked case.
Will persons be allowed to open carry?
No. A handgun carried on or about a person must be concealed from view of the public or on or about a person within a vehicle.
What type of firearm will I be allowed to carry concealed?
A “Concealed firearm” is defined, in relevant part, as a loaded or unloaded handgun.
“Handgun” means any device which is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosion, expansion of gas, or escape of gas that is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand.
“Handgun” does not include:
A stun gun or Taser;
A machine gun as defined in item (i) of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012;
A short-barreled rifle or shotgun as defined in item (ii) of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012
Any pneumatic gun, spring gun, paint ball gun, or B-B gun which expels a single globular projectile not exceeding .18 inch in diameter, or which has a maximum muzzle velocity of less than 700 feet per second, or which expels breakable paint balls containing washable marking colors.
Where Will I Not Be Able To Carry My Firearm?
A licensee under this Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on or into:
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public or private elementary or secondary school.
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a pre-school or child care facility, including any room or portion of a building under the control of a pre-school or child care facility. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the operator of a child care facility in a family home from owning or possessing a firearm in the home or license under this Act, if no child under child care at the home is present in the home or the firearm in the home is stored in a locked container when a child under child care at the home is present in the home.
Any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a licensee from carrying a concealed firearm onto the real property, bikeway, or trail in a park regulated by the Department of Natural Resources or any other designated public hunting area or building where firearm possession is permitted as established by the Department of Natural Resources under Section 1.8 of the Wildlife Code.
Any building designated for matters before a circuit court, appellate court, or the Supreme Court, or any building or portion of a building under the control of the Supreme Court.
Any building or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government.
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of an adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison, or jail.
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public or private hospital or hospital affiliate, mental health facility, or nursing home.
Any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds.
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of an establishment that serves alcohol on its premises, if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts within the prior 3 months is from the sale of alcohol. The owner of an establishment who knowingly fails to prohibit concealed firearms on its premises as provided in this paragraph or who knowingly makes a false statement or record to avoid the prohibition on concealed firearms under this paragraph is subject to the penalty under subsection (c-5) of Section 10-1 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.
Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through a public gathering in order to access his or her residence, place of business, or vehicle.
Any building or real property that has been issued a Special Event Retailer’s license as defined in Section 1-3.17.1 of the Liquor Control Act during the time designated for the sale of alcohol by the Special Event Retailer’s license, or a Special use permit license as defined in subsection (q) of Section 5-1 of the Liquor Control Act during the time designated for the sale of alcohol by the Special use permit license.
Any public playground.
Any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district, provided nothing in this Section shall prohibit a licensee from carrying or bikeway if only a portion of the trail or bikeway includes a public park.
Any real property under the control of the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
Any building, classroom, laboratory, medical clinic, hospital, artistic venue, athletic venue, entertainment venue, officially recognized university-related organization property, whether owned or leased, and any real property, including parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas under the control of a public or private community college, college, or university.
Any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a gaming facility licensed under the Riverboat Gambling Act or the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, including an inter-track wagering location licensee.
Any stadium, arena, or the real property or parking area under the control of a stadium, arena, or any collegiate or professional sporting event.
Any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a public library.
Any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an airport.
Any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an amusement park.
Any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a zoo or museum.
Any street, driveway, parking area, property, building, or facility, owned, leased, controlled, or used by a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The licensee shall not under any circumstance store a firearm or ammunition in his or her vehicle or in a compartment or container within a vehicle located anywhere in or on the street, driveway, parking area, property, building, or facility described in this paragraph.
Any area where firearms are prohibited under federal law.
What About Private Property?
The owner of private real property of any type may prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms on the property under his or her control. The owner must post a sign in accordance with the law indicating that firearms are prohibited on the property, unless the property is a private residence.
How Will I Know An Area Is Prohibited?
Signs stating that the carrying of firearms is prohibited shall be clearly and conspicuously posted at the entrance of a building, premises, or real property, unless the building or premises is a private residence. Signs shall be of a uniform design as established by the Department and shall be 4 inches by 6 inches in size.
What Is This “Safe Harbor” I Heard About?
Notwithstanding other sections of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, any licensee prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm into the parking area of a prohibited location specified in the Firearm Concealed Carry Act shall be permitted to carry a concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle into the parking area and may store a firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking area.
A licensee may carry a concealed firearm in the immediate area surrounding his or her vehicle within a prohibited parking lot area only for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving a firearm within the vehicle’s trunk, provided the licensee ensures the concealed firearm is unloaded prior to exiting the vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, a “case” includes a glove compartment or console that completely encloses the concealed firearm or ammunition, the trunk of the vehicle, or a firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container.This exception does not apply to any area where firearms are prohibited under federal law or to property regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
A licensee shall not be in violation of this Section while he or she is traveling along a public right of way that touches or crosses any of the premises prohibited under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act if the concealed firearm is carried on his or her person in accordance with the provisions of this Act or is being transported in a vehicle by the licensee in accordance with all other applicable provisions of law.
What About The Chicago Firearm Permit Program?
The Chicago Police Gun Registration Section said they will no longer process Chicago Firearm Permits or renewals for any firearms.
I Have A Chicago Firearm Permit. How Will This Concealed Carry Law Affect That?
The “Firearm Concealed Carry Act”, once signed into law, will eliminate all city and county handgun ordinances and laws. Laws affecting handgun types, handgun magazines, handgun ammunition and all regulation, licensing, ownership and such regarding handguns at the local level, will be eliminated. This only affects handguns and NOT shotguns or rifles.
Student’s Responsibilities:
If accepted for training, the student agrees to abide by all written and verbal policies and procedures of Defcon-1 Firearms Training its directors, executives, managers, supervisors and/or authorized agents instructing, directing, or placed in charge of them. All students are financially responsible for any and all debts that are incurred and owed to Defcon-1 Firearms Training as a result of their application for enrollment in any class or course given or sponsored by Defcon-1 Firearms Training.
All students, by registering for class and actual class attendance, are agreeing to subscribe to this code of conduct and the student’s responsibilities. All students are expected to be in the classroom, ready to begin class no later than ten minutes prior to the start of each class session. Each student is expected to dress “casual” in order to blend into our surrounding business atmosphere. Students, while attending class, are a representation of our Company.
Students are expected to follow the directions of the instructors quickly and precisely. Any student whom an instructor feels is incapable of safely and properly completing any course, will be removed by the instructor. No refund of tuition will be provided in the case of any deliberate act that is unsafe, or is in defiance of the directions of an instructor. Each student is expected to have evaluated their own ability to safely and successfully complete the class that they wish to enroll in, prior to enrollment, as well as their own physical ability to engage in the training itself. Individuals who have severe allergies, brittle bones, preexisting injuries or conditions that restrict movement, asthma, or other physical or medical conditions, are advised to contact their personal physician prior to registering and attending class with Defcon-1 Firearms Training.
This section has been created to answer many of the common questions about the “Firearm Concealed Carry Act”. This FAQ does not constitute nor should it be construed as legal advice, and for detailed legal advice on this act, and the related laws, contact a competent attorney.
