Chicago Gun Laws: Can Visitors Carry Their Firearm?

If you’re a gun owner planning to visit Chicago, it’s important to be familiar with local gun laws before bringing you firearm into the city.

Possession of firearms in Illinois is regulated by three statutory codes: Unlawful Use of Weapons (UUW) in the Criminal Code, the Wildlife Code, and the Firearm Owner’s Identification Act, according to the Illinois State Police. In addition, nonresidents could be subject to local ordinances of communities within the state.

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“Nonresidents are subject to Illinois law, restrictions, and penalties, and should be familiar with them if the nonresident plans to bring a firearm into the state,” the ISP said.

A 2011 Illinois Supreme Court ruling determined that visitors to Illinois aren’t required to have a Firearm Owners Identification card, if the firearm is properly registered in their home state, NBC Chicago reported.

Nonresidents who wish to bring a firearm to Illinois must transport the gun in a closed case, and the weapon must not be immediately accessible or must be broken down in a nonfunctioning state, according to the ISP.

Out-of-state concealed-carry permits aren’t recognized in Chicago.

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Nonresidents holding a concealed carry permit in Hawaii, New Mexcio, South Carolina, or Virginia can apply for a Illinois concealed carry permit, according to Handgunlaw.us. Those states have concealed carry laws considered “substantially similar” to that of Illinois in accordance with Illinois gun laws.

Being familiar with Chicago’s gun laws and how they apply to visitors to the city is complicated by recent legal challenges and changes to the laws. Among the changes, handgun ownership has been allowed in Chicago only since a 2010 Supreme Court ruling in McDonald v. Chicago struck down the city’s handguns ban.

Even more recently, Illinois became the last state in the nation in 2013 to allow concealed carry.

Courts also have struck down Chicago’s strict regulations on gun shops and firing ranges, requiring the city to alter its gun laws to comply with court rulings.

This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws of your state and destination before travel.

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