Is AR-15 Illegal to purchase in Cook County ILLINOIS

Those are really specific questions, I don't think the internet is the best place to ask them. An established gun dealer will know. Go in and ask to buy one, he'll let you know if its legal or not.

Turk81 said:

Please let me know what you think because everybody is giving me a different answer. It will mean a lot to me if you guys give me your thoughts.

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The internet is no different than asking people in person...ask a dozen people a question, get 9 different answers (and try to figure out which ones are correct).

My thoughts? Research your local laws...asking strangers on the internet for advice on something that may land you in jail, give you a felony record, and cost lots of $$$ is generally not the best course of action.

Generally the way laws are worded will tell the story. Look up the actual local ordinance and see what it says. If transfer or sale is specifically prohibited then you can’t buy. If possession in general is prohibited then you can’t possess. A few laws have dealt with purchasing elsewhere and bringing items in that are legal in other places so that is also something to look for. That would be worded something along the lines of purchase with intent to store within the municipality.

First welcome to gun ownership and the forum.
Ask the LGS/FFL nearest you, preferably in the same town you reside they have to know the law. Then go to a different gun shop in a neighboring county and see if you get the same answer. There may be a legal workaround if the dealer wants a sale from you and will help. Sorry you live in such a jacked up area. This kind of thing SHOULD be a non issue!

I did a quick Google search and it looks like there is a local assault weapons ban. I didn’t dig very deep at all but the info is out there and only a google search away.

I would call my actual sheriff (not deputy). But my sheriff is likely much easier to get ahold of than yours. Option 2 is to follow @FROGO207 advice. And is likely going to get you a much faster response.

Ok, my quick look tells me several things.

OP has no LGS (looks like the closest is in Midlothian or Calumet).
It looks like Cook County retains its absurd AWB, even if the Chicago one was struck down as unconstitutional.
ISRA (Illinois State Rifle Association) is likely to be a much better resource for specific answers to these questions than LE or the like.

The Municode for Cook county is avaialble
https://library.municode.com/il/coo...OR_CH54LIPEMIBURE_ARTIIIDEWEDE_DIV4BLHOASWEBA
Referring down to DIVISION 4. - BLAIR HOLT ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN: (emphasis added)

Sec. 54-212. - Assault weapons, and large-capacity magazines; sale prohibited; exceptions.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, offer or display for sale, give, lend, transfer ownership of, acquire, carry or possess any assault weapon or large capacity magazine in Cook County. This subsection shall not apply to:
(1) The sale or transfer to, or possession by any officer, agent, or employee of Cook County or any other municipality or state or of the United States, members of the armed forces of the United States; or the organized militia of this or any other state; or peace officers to the extent that any such person named in this subsection is otherwise authorized to acquire or possess an assault weapon and/or large capacity magazine and does so while acting within the scope of his or her duties;
(2) Transportation of assault weapons or large capacity magazine if such weapons are broken down and in a nonfunctioning state and are not immediately accessible to any person.

(b) Any assault weapon or large capacity magazine possessed, carried, sold or transferred in violation of Subsection (a) of this section is hereby declared to be contraband and shall be seized and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Section 54-213.

(c) Any person including persons who are a qualified retired law enforcement officer as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 926C who, prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, was legally in possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine prohibited by this division shall have 60 days from the effective date of the ordinance to do any of the following without being subject to prosecution hereunder:
(1) To legally remove the assault weapon or large capacity magazine from within the limits of the County of Cook; or
(2) To modify the assault weapon or large capacity magazine either to render it permanently inoperable; or
(3) To surrender the assault weapon or large capacity magazine to the Sheriff or his designee for disposal as provided below.
(Ord. No. 13-O-32, 7-17-2013.)

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ISRA is probably the lead organization to go to, to try and overturn this nonsense. It will be on SOF, GOA, and NRA radar, but subject to that horrible hobgoblin that plagues national rights organizations: political expediency.

To OP, I used to live in Glen Ellyn--'68-70 before chicagoland swallowed up everything.

i'm, not a lawyer nor have i ever impersonated a lawyer. However, i do attempt to stay current in matters pertaining to firearm litigation and the 2nd Amendment. In 2020 the US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the Cook county, Il "assault weapons" ban. The ban remains in effect.

Supreme Court Allows Cook County Assault Weapons Ban To Stand | Chicago, IL Patch

Wilson v. Cook County, Illinois - SCOTUSblog

Turk81 said:

First thing is first. I would like to thank you guys for taking the time reading my thread and getting back to me it helped me so much. I read everything you posted! I just got home from this research actually. The time I posted this thread was 1pm central time. I did a lot of running around was going crazy. I stopped at 3 gun shops in 3 different counties.1 of them is cook. Cook says its banned to sell in the store for now, but you can purchase it and it can be shipped to a different county. YOU can actually go to different county and buy AR-15s there, but they have no idea about if I can drive with it from A to B and get in trouble with the law. Customers over heard my conversation and same thing you can go to jail other guy nothing will happen etc....... oh they wont search your house its ok etc.....Then the other 2 counties were similar. They said nothing will happen its your RIGHT as an AMERICAN and here I am selling these in the store nothing is illegal. So then I go to the police station where I live and talk to the chief. I explained to him if I buy this AR-15 in will county and pick it up and drive with it to cook county where my house is located in and get pulled over will I go to jail???? He said NO. There isn't anything like that no law what so ever. As long as you buy it legally have valid foid card and it isnt fully loaded AR-15 while your driving. You are ok. Whichever fire arms are being sold at gun shops that means they are legal therefor you can buy it, its your rite and you can buy as many as you want. He said he tells people to buy plenty of ARs incase one day if a law is passed then you wont be able to purchase no longer. So i drive back to will county and you know what i grabbed her man!!!!! 72 hrs and counting!!!!!!!! I purchased the ROCK RIVER ARMS LAR-15!
Something deep deep down inside still gives me the shakes when i pick it up and drive her home. Thank you everyone for the information once again you provided me! God bless be safe!
I love this stuff!

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Congrats on the purchase. Sucks that you can't take it home the day you buy it though

Welcome to the club, dude. It's a great platform. Easy to clean and fun to shoot.

The ban is in unincorporated areas of Cook County. If you live in an incorporated town or village even if its in Cook County you're exempt from the unincorporated ban.

Individual incorporated villages and towns inside of Cook County can also ban semi-auto rifles and limit magazine size. Highland Park, inside Crook County, banned ar15s awhile ago. The Highland Park ban applies to residents and visitors of Highland Park.

I'm a former resident of Palatine, Crook County, Illinois.

Turk81 said:

So then I go to the police station where I live and talk to the chief. I explained to him if I buy this AR-15 in will county and pick it up and drive with it to cook county where my house is located in and get pulled over will I go to jail???? He said NO. There isn't anything like that no law what so ever.

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Please see DIVISION 4. - BLAIR HOLT ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, noted above. So, there is too a law, and in lack and white. Even if el Hefe intends to ignore it, or enforcement of same. This is why asking LEO is typically the least best option of all.
This is rather definitive:

It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, offer or display for sale, give, lend, transfer ownership of, acquire, carry or possess any assault weapon or large capacity magazine in Cook County

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P89DCSS said:

The ban is in unincorporated areas of Cook County

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Here's the actual, current code (please note emphasized portion in bold):

Sec. 54-210. - Applicability.
(a) The provisions included in this division apply to all persons in Cook County including, but not limited to, persons licensed under this article.
(b) As provided in Article VII, Section 6(c), of the State of Illinois Constitution of 1970, if this article conflicts with an ordinance of a municipality, the municipal ordinance shall prevail within its jurisdiction.
(Ord. No. 13-O-32, 7-17-2013.)

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So, if an incorporated municipality enacts a law that negates the ban, only then, and there, that would negate the ban. But, it takes an explicit City Ordinance, and I find none such for Palos Hills. §54-210 (b) also allows for more-strict city ordinances, too. There does not appear to be a blanket "only unincorporated areas" enforcement within the code.

As OP has discovered, much of such regulations are enforced in the breach rather than by the rule. The term of art for this is "felicitous and capricious enforcement." Which, when Courts concur that is the case is universally Unconstitutional.
This is serious business. "Chief says it's OK." Fine, what about the Deputy Chief? The Shift supervisors? What about the next Chief?
Guess wrong:

Sec. 54-214. - Violation; penalty.
(a) Any person found in violation of this division shall be fined not less than $5,000.00 and not more than $10,000.00 and may be sentenced for a term not to exceed more than six months imprisonment. Any subsequent violation of this division shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $10,000.00 and not more than $15,000.00 and may be sentenced for a term not to exceed more than six months imprisonment.

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Now, here is a fascinating bit of data for Cook County, they have defined "traveling" for FOPA (emphasis added):

(b) It shall not be a violation of this division if a person transporting an assault weapon firearm or ammunition while engaged in interstate travel is in compliance with 18 U.S.C.A. § 926A. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any person within the county for more than 24 hours is not engaged in interstate travel, and is subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 13-O-32, 7-17-2013; Ord. No. 15-4167, 9-9-2015.)

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Now, to be quite clear, I find this ordinance offensive to liberty and to American jurisprudence. In my ideal world, principled persons would strive to have such drivel chucked into the dustbin of history with imprecations and invocations against ever revisiting it. We do not live in my ideal world.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners does not have jurisdiction over incorporated municipalities in Cook County. That's why you can buy and own AR15s and live in Cook County. The Cook County Board of Commissioners can pass all the laws they want to. It doesn't change the fact that any laws the Cook County Board of Commissioners pass have no effect outside of unincorporated Crook County.

Edit: I'm not a lawyer but I believe the relevant term for Illinois is "Home Rule"

There is a AWB in cook county. The Cabelas in Hoffman Estates is within Cook County, collects the gun and ammo tax on every sale, and sells MSRs. Go figure.

Turk81 said:

Hello friends! I’m a new member also new to firearms. I just received my foid card finally! Super excited!! I have a lot to learn. I started to do some reading and research on firearms to get the fundamentals down. It’s It’s overwhelming to me right now. So I just picked up a ruger precision 18” cal. One more day I can pick it up. Now my friends I have a question for you. Please let me know what you think because everybody is giving me a different answer. For starters I live in Palos Hills Illinois. It is in cook county. So a law passed I believe where you cannot purchase the AR-15 no longer unless it’s out of cook county. But I came across a article and it says you can’t purchase or sell it in HIGHLAND PARK, IL and that’s in cook county. People here where I live are sayin yes u can no can’t etc and on and on it goes. Does anyone know anything about this? Let’s say I go out of cook and go buy it in dupage county and they sell and then I drive with it to my house and I get pulled over what will happen? There’s a lot of moving parts here and it’s driving me nuts. Because of this I am not buying it I don’t want to get trouble with the law. It will mean a lot to me if you guys give me your thoughts. God bless be safe and I love this stuff!

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Impossible . it's a question that I see as having too many different answers. I am not a lawyer , do not follow my advice as a guide. All I can tell you is my experience and perspective as a northern Illinois guy who does at times travel to and through cook County...

The way I see it, these laws intend to confuse and in that they detour the casual interest. I don't know if you can have x in Palos hills , I've tried to figure out this stuff but my brain works in a way that makes legal speak nearly impossible (their magic works on me). All I will say is that I was in the second batch of conceal carry permits ever issued in the state 7ish(?) Years ago and I still have never gotten anyone to give me straight answer as far as magazine capacity in Chicago vs suburban cook County and the inner suburbs. To complicate things village ordinances apply and this is all on purpose, make it tough to understand and possibly punish anyone that accidentally exercises too much liberty within some townships borders. My solution is to only carry a 6-7 shot handgun if traveling through coincidentally one of the deadliest cities in the country. I can't afford a trip to jail, I make sure I'm well within the arbitrary capacity and firearm type and still have some anxiety that I'll face legal trouble on the whim of some anti gun jurisdiction.

I'd say of course to speak to a lawyer. This isn't fool proof though as the situation can change at any point, possibly without your knowledge .
Maybe buy revolvers and lever actions and hope your ok, I don't know.
It's a village thing I think, plenty of gun stores sell anything you could want in cook co. Be aware that cook co also has an ammo tax on top of the regular sales tax, 5 cents per centerfire, 1 cent each on rimfire cartridges. Do not buy ammo in cook county, don't do it. As I understand it, those taxes collected on ammo will go to further restrict your rights. Cook co is big , I wouldn't buy in dupage co either, everything is more expensive. You want to buy in Kane , mchenry, Boone counties- things will be more normal and people aren't afraid of spooky black guns and their naughty ammunition . better yet, cross the Wisconsin border (follow all applicable laws) for guns & ammo. I like Marengo guns a lot, GAT is usually well stocked but not cheap and over the border dam rd guns in delavan has lots of hidden treasure - tiny shop off the beaten path.

That's the best I can tell you. Good luck

Turk81 said:

First thing is first. I would like to thank you guys for taking the time reading my thread and getting back to me it helped me so much. I read everything you posted! I just got home from this research actually. The time I posted this thread was 1pm central time. I did a lot of running around was going crazy. I stopped at 3 gun shops in 3 different counties.1 of them is cook. Cook says its banned to sell in the store for now, but you can purchase it and it can be shipped to a different county. YOU can actually go to different county and buy AR-15s there, but they have no idea about if I can drive with it from A to B and get in trouble with the law. Customers over heard my conversation and same thing you can go to jail other guy nothing will happen etc....... oh they wont search your house its ok etc.....Then the other 2 counties were similar. They said nothing will happen its your RIGHT as an AMERICAN and here I am selling these in the store nothing is illegal. So then I go to the police station where I live and talk to the chief. I explained to him if I buy this AR-15 in will county and pick it up and drive with it to cook county where my house is located in and get pulled over will I go to jail???? He said NO. There isn't anything like that no law what so ever. As long as you buy it legally have valid foid card and it isnt fully loaded AR-15 while your driving. You are ok. Whichever fire arms are being sold at gun shops that means they are legal therefor you can buy it, its your rite and you can buy as many as you want. He said he tells people to buy plenty of ARs incase one day if a law is passed then you wont be able to purchase no longer. So i drive back to will county and you know what i grabbed her man!!!!! 72 hrs and counting!!!!!!!! I purchased the ROCK RIVER ARMS LAR-15!
Something deep deep down inside still gives me the shakes when i pick it up and drive her home. Thank you everyone for the information once again you provided me! God bless be safe!
I love this stuff!

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I live in northern Illinois also but not Crook County. I bought my Rock River LAR15 in 2008 and it is still my favorite! Check out Buffalo Range Shooting park!

Turk81 said:

Hello friends! I’m a new member also new to firearms. I just received my foid card finally! Super excited!! I have a lot to learn. I started to do some reading and research on firearms to get the fundamentals down. It’s It’s overwhelming to me right now. So I just picked up a ruger precision 18” cal. One more day I can pick it up. Now my friends I have a question for you. Please let me know what you think because everybody is giving me a different answer. For starters I live in Palos Hills Illinois. It is in cook county. So a law passed I believe where you cannot purchase the AR-15 no longer unless it’s out of cook county....

There’s a lot of moving parts here and it’s driving me nuts.

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I lived in your area for a long time. The closest local gun shop I would recommend for you is Rinks over in Lockport. It's maybe 15 minutes from Palos. It's a smaller old school looking shop with an indoor handgun range. I think they are technically Will county. They usually have a decent selection of handguns, milsurps, and some MSRs, though obviously the current sales environment has probably affected them just as much as anyone else.

Technically speaking there is a municipal ordinance in Cook County which prohibits the possession of a list of assault weapons. Municipal ordinances are not criminal code. It is not criminal code, meaning the only penalties are fines rather than imprisonment or taking of your property. I'm not aware of the rule ever being enforced. It was passed more as political posturing and will not affect your ability to purchase one in any county outside Cook. Regardless the fact I know a lot of people who own such firearms living in the county, it is still technically a violation so in the end it's your personal decision.

https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/supreme-court-allows-cook-county-assault-weapons-ban-stand

Fyi there aren't a lot of public places for centerfire rifle shooting near Palos. Private clubs are expensive and mostly not terribly close. Buffalo Rock mentioned earlier is okay though it's a long drive, somewhat expensive, and usually very crowded on weekends. I found the public ranges in Indiana to be the best solution within a reasonable drive from the south suburbs. Willow Slough in Morrocco IN (100 yards) and Jasper-Pulaski in Medaryville IN (200 yards) were both free with nice facilities in the past, though I don't know if Covid rules have limited their hours so suggest you call them before going.

So IANAL nor do I live in Illinois, there is however also an AWB where I live (Washington DC) and I do own a AR-15 and I might be able to point to some things yours should be considering as you try to answer your original question “Is AR-15 Illegal to purchase in Cook County ILLINOIS”.

for starters the question is a little misleading because what we commonly call an AR-15 and what is actually an AR-15 are sort of 2 different things. What most people mean when they say AR-15 is a modern sporting rife based on the now expired patents armalite licensed to colt back in the day.

vs what an ar-15 actually is, is the original designation given to the rife by armalite for which the trademark is still active and held by colt.

So the reason you can still buy ar-15’s in places like Washington DC or California that have AWB is simply because what an AR-15 is not as clear as anti-gun politicians would like. We all know one when we see one but trying to write that into law without also banning other firearms that the don’t carry the same stigma with he public and could cause backlash with more moderate voters is lucky not something anti-gun politicians have figured out how to do well.

for instance if the wanted to specificity ban AR-15’s and wrote something like “AR-15’s are banned” it would do nothing to stop Ruger or Smith&Westons from selling their version that have no link to the AR-15 branding or armalite. Even Colt could try and do something like make an SP-1 variant and just drop the AR-15 branding.

so instead they will generally do something like we ban all these guns by name and any other gun that fits this description then proceeded to list features of an AR. So the devil is in the detail of how the statue is worded and often simply changing out the offending features makes a gun that was an AW under the law no longer an AW.

(sad part is I was talking to a family member who is also into AR’s and we were discussing the AW ban where I live and whatnot and realized how easy it would actually be to word a statue that specifically bans what we commonly refer to as an AR-15 in the way that would make the gun grabbers goals actually happen and not leave a lot of room for work arounds. Good thing none of these gun grabbing politicians are familiar enough with what they want to ban to write a solid piece of legislation)

illinoisburt said:

found the public ranges in Indiana to be the best solution within a reasonable drive from the south suburbs.

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There is a relatively new range at Kingsbury, just south of LaPorte. Nice range. I think it would be closer than Morocco. Plus, you could go to cabelas in Hammond and Bass Pro in Portage on the way