Bringing guns into Chicago/Cook County?

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As one poster noted, what laws you are protected by at the federal level, and what the cops there will know/care about could be two completely different animals.

I have read all of Chicago's laws relating to guns, as I lived in the 'burbs and did (still do) travel there frequently.

1. No handguns unless you are a specifically priveliged class (licensed PI, cop, alderman, a few others).

2. No handgun ammunition, this includes .22 lr.

3. No weapons previously designated under the federal AWB, or really most firearms you couldn't pass off as a non-war antique or hunting gun.

4. Your registration paperwork, which must be with the gun at all times, or is subject to fine and confiscation.

If you think federal laws will protect you, I believe you need only travel with them unloaded in your trunk and use the most direct route to your destination without any unneccessary stops or detours. I wouldn't bet on that, having the life experience that I do, but I would be prepared for the police there not to know (or care) about the federal laws if I were you.
 
Record time for a response for the CPD!!!

and G19x, "So from two of the posters here I assume you don't think CCW is ever needed" Come on, man, of course i think its needed. I think you should carry everywhere/anywhere even the states with the least crime STILL HAVE CRIME. The discussion is about whether or not it is legal

So with no further adeu:

The following applies to the City of Chicago only and not to other jurisdictions in Cook County

Chicago Police Department


ARTICLE I. POSSESSION OF FIREARMS
8-20-010 Unlawful to carry – Exceptions.

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or maintain in any vehicle or about his or her person except when on his or her property or in his or her residence or fixed place of business, any rifle, shotgun, or other firearm; provided, that this section shall not apply to:

(10) Transportation of weapons broken down in a nonfunctioning state.
 
Darn. Now I'm going to have to take the quad-.50 mount off my truck before my next Giordano's run. BTW, Giordano's, Portillo's, and Chicago Chop House are pretty much my only reasons for setting foot in the city - and the first two I can find in some suburbs.

Just as an example of how laws work in Chicago, all of Lake Shore Drive is strictly "no trucks." While you might think this means no commercial trucks and/or no trucks requiring a CDL to drive, in fact it means no pickups of any kind, including personal use pickups. Enjoy! I lived in that city for almost three years, enjoyed, but left and never looked back.
 
Really? You must not go into areas trucks have to go to deliver loads, because I've seen some pretty frightening stuff go on in that city. And that's just in the places I'll go in broad daylight, there's plenty of places I won't go day or night.
 
ARTICLE I. POSSESSION OF FIREARMS
8-20-010 Unlawful to carry – Exceptions.

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or maintain in any vehicle or about his or her person except when on his or her property or in his or her residence or fixed place of business, any rifle, shotgun, or other firearm; provided, that this section shall not apply to:

(10) Transportation of weapons broken down in a nonfunctioning state.
Click to expand...

Does that mean I could legally bring a firearm to Chicago and keep it at a friends as long as it's broken down into nonfunctioning state in a locked case?
 
It would appear that you could bring it in and bring it out as long as it is broken down. Apparently you can drive around as long as it is broken down (it doesn't say here, but its probably a good idea to keep it in the trunk too). I also gather that the only way you can have it in a functional state is to be on your property. As far as pistols go.... it does say any other firearm...
 
I live in suburban Cook County. Chicago has its own seperate laws from Cook County. I've bought guns in Cook County, and had them shipped to an FFL in Cook County. I wouldn't recomend shooting anything there though, too many people could hear, and you wouldn't want that. Anyway, if your goin to Chicago, forget any guns. Your gonna be in huge trouble if they catch you with any, even if you have a FOID or are just driving through. Better off meetin at a suburban range or somthin.
 
I might be going to Chicago soon to see friends as well. Can I carry a telescopic baton? I have this 26" that collapses to 10" and I can conceal it just fine. Also, what about knives (both folding and fixed blade)?
 
I talked to CPD, I actually got a pretty decent cop on the line, he even admitted the laws there are crap. He said that I can bring the weapon through Chicago but keep it hidden in the car and don't do anything stupid like going 90 mph.

I don't know if this means I can bring a handgun through or not, from my understanding, laws primarily cover "carrying" and possession for "residents". But does the technical definition of leaving the firearm in your car field stripped count as "transportation"? The laws are very confusing, I think I should consult my attorney.
 
Jeez, Pilman--Not to be rude, but I think you're ignoring the advice you asked for. I live in the 'burbs and carry as a retired LEO. Truthfully, most of the retired former Chicago cops I qualify with hate Chicago's gun laws and despise Mayor Daley. Having said that, why take the risk of getting yourself jacked up a thousand miles away from home?

There are plenty of gun shops with ranges that rent guns. Contact one of them and see if they will let you, a nonresident, rent a gun to show your buds how to shoot. You'll probably get a variety of answers, but will likely find one that will accommodate you.

By the way, as one contributor noted, much of Chicago is very safe. Not only that, it's a spectacular city with great restaurants and attractions. It's just most of the politicians that suck--greedy, corrupt, and more than willing to impose their will on a populace that never cries "foul."
 
This last weekend I had to travel to Rockford IL. My 13 yr. old son went with me. When we approached the Illinois state line I pulled off the interstate and unloaded and cased my two handguns and placed them in the trunk of the car. My son asks what gives, you always have a gun on you? I said you have to understand, Illinois is full of liberals and they are afraid anyone with a gun might hurt their criminal population. But Dad the criminals won't care about the law and will have a gun any way. You are right son, but liberals and Democrats don't want to upset their supporters and voters.
 
I talked to the gun registry of Chicago as well as the legal affair.

They recognize traveling through the city of Chicago as a nonresident with a firearm as long as it is locked in a case out of reach in a disassembled state unloaded. The police department as well as the registry also confirmed that you can stay in the city as long as you are not a resident with the firearm disassembled in a case, that the law only affects residents but that carry of a assembled firearm would still be illegal.

It appears self defense laws are nonexistent and using a firearm in self defense would result in an arrest and processing due to the city laws.

I left a voice mail for the law office about using a firearm in self defense and if there are any exemptions.
 
I left a voice mail for the law office about using a firearm in self defense and if there are any exemptions.
Click to expand...

Ha. I went to law school with some people who wound up in the City of Chicago's law department. I'll be very curious what kind of response you get. I'll be amazed if it's remotely positive.
 
I found more information. Apparently self defense in Chicago is legal although if the firearm is used, you will not get it back.

There is protection against prosecution for unlawful use of
a weapon or failure to register the weapon or possession of an illegal
(non-NFA) weapon due to the Hale De Mar act
 
I don't know if this means I can bring a handgun through or not
Click to expand...
FEDERAL LAW guarantees your right to bring a handgun THROUGH Chicago in interstate travel. That's not optional for the city, nor can they impose ANY additional requirements. If you adhere strictly to the requirements of FOPA, anything they do to you in contravention of FOPA is both a crime and a civil tort.
 
I'm an Illinois resident and live 50 miles west of Chicago in Kane County.

First and foremost, all those that are commenting that they live in Illinois and the laws are crap and the fact that you'll be hosed if caught with a gun in Cook County are 100% correct.

A friend was rear-ended on the Eisenhower Expressway last year and his trunk and rear tire was smashed, rendering his car non drivable. As they're loading his car onto the tow truck to take it away, he mentions in front of the cop, "Oh ****, I gotta get my gun out of the trunk." It was locked in a storage case exactly as state law requires. He made the mistake of telling the cop he had planned on going shooting after work at a range west of the city (outside of Cook County). He still doesn't have his gun back.

Second, planning on shooting anywhere in Cook County is a mistake. I don't know of a single gun range inside of Cook County (there may be some, but I just don't know - doubtful though). There are a handful of indoor ranges just outside of Cook County (Gat Guns in West Dundee and Megasports in Plainfield) and both can be downright stupid when it comes to folks wanting to shoot without a FOID card. Megasports 10x.

Third, it will be 10x more trouble than it's worth to try to find time to go shoot. Teach your pals to shoot when they visit you.

Fourth, I would never call the cops to ask for an interpretation of the law. Their job is to arrest you - not to help you understand the law. Call the District Attorney for Cook County if you really must know. Better yet, leave the gun at home. Or leave it in the trunk and don't show it to anybody. I'm not one to suggest not bringing it with you, but know if you get caught carrying in Cook County, you're hosed. If you get caught with one in your car, you're hosed. My pal did everything right (except for that part about talking in front of the cop about his gun) and he's out a gun.

FWIW, free internet advice.

:D
 
Gun World in Bensenville was my favorite indoor range when we lived there--we left in '04.
I just did a search and it appears as if Gun World was closed in '07 due to O'Hare airport expansion--maybe they re-opened elsewhere?

They used to rent pistols there--pretty good place.

I think i'd find a place that rents pistols and take my friends there, rather than tempt fate and Chicago law.
 
I think i'd find a place that rents pistols and take my friends there, rather than tempt fate and Chicago law.
Click to expand...
Anybody without an Illinois FOID may not be able to rent a handgun, whether that's by state law or not. Daley has worked SO hard to close gun stores OUTSIDE of Chicago that some of them impose what would otherwise be ludicrous restrictions of their own. I went through this with my cousin who lives in Chicago. She (and my mother) would like for me to visit more often. I simply loathe the place, so they've tried to invent reasons for me to come, including shooting. I told them I probably wouldn't be allowed to TOUCH a gun without an FOID. It's still once a year, tops.
 
There's a very good range in Elmwood Park. It's like a block away from Chicago. It's on Grand Ave, just west of Harlem Ave. It's called Illinois Gun Works. $10 range fee and they rent guns for around $10. I go there a lot and the people there are very nice. In fact I was there this week and it was pretty empty. I went with 4 of my friends and we pretty much had the range to ourselves.
 
I'd have a handgun i wasn't willing to lose (like a well used revolver) put it in the trunk UNLOADED when you enter Illinois, and in a locked case, away from ammo, for say hotel protection, whether or not you are in Chicago city limits. If this is truly a city ordinance for POSSESSING a handgun in Chicago (i don't mean illegal carry under Illinois state law), then it is a misdemeanor ordinance violation, I'd bring the thing with me. I wouldn't call the police, prosecutor, or anyone. They have caller ID and the police stations record calls.

Follow all state firearm laws when in Illinois because that is where you'd get burned bad. The city ordinance thing, I wouldn't let that keep me from protecting myself in my hotel or when I get to another state and can load up a handgun. Keep the handgun case in your suitcase so that no one sees a gun case. Put ammo in another piece of luggage. Do not consent to car searches by Chicago police or any for that matter in Illinois. Enjoy your trip.
 
UUW

For the guy asking about the extendable baton, the Illinois unlawful use of a weapon statute applies to bludgeons as well. I think pepper spray or knives with blades under 2 1/2 inches are about your only options (barring any more creative solutions.)
 
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