Traveling to Chicago - law changes?

You should be ok from a Federal standpoint. Should also be fine as far as the State of Illinois. Not sure about the City of Chicago. From a practical standpoint it should not be a problem, likelihood of anyone ever knowing they are there is unlikely. However I would not bet my life on it. You need an answer from the City of Chicago. And I would want it in writing.

Go here...

http://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/firearmsfaq.cfm

Be weary of Chicago, but i'm sure you already know...

As already stated, there is Illinois and then there is Chicago. Get it in writing from them for your own peace of mind....you do not want a confrontation over gun possession in the City of Chicago.

I live and carry in Illinois and I'm licensed to carry in many other states now as well. I won't take a gun beyond the Chicago city limits and only go there if forced or as a last resort.

'Nuff said - enjoy your trip and enjoy the rest of Illinois!

VooDoo

Be weary of Chicago, but i'm sure you already know...

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We're all weary of Chicago, but I think you mean wary.

Here's the skinny --

1) Out of state CCW holders can carry in Illinois in their car. If you get out of the car with a loaded gun, you're back into felony territory. This is a provision of the new CCW law.

2) Any non-Illinois resident can transport firearms if they are:
a) unloaded and cased, or
b) broken-down or non-functioning state, or
c) not immediately accessible by driver or any passenger.

In general, we recommend unloaded and in a case. You'll be fine.

P.S. The new CCW law also preempts any local handgun ordinances, so no need to worry about Chicago having special restrictions. At least in theory -- they might not have gotten the message yet.

Have the wedding moved to Texas.

LOL! You got me. Wary it is! Better yet, be very wary.

As posted above, if you have a ccw in your home state, or are legal to carry in your home state, you can conceal a loaded handgun IN YOUR CAR in IL. Being in Chicago matters not as the IL concealed carry statute has preemption over local laws.

No need to unload and store separate and all that jazz if you can carry in your home state.

As said above, w/ Out-of-state CCW you're OK in your car. If you have it cased and unloaded outside of your car you'll be fine. The State CCW law preempted the other murky and utterly gooped up Chicago law regarding out of state firearms in the city. As an aside, it was ALWAYS OK to have a firearm legal where you came from broken down/ cased in the storage are/trunk of your vehicle in Chicago per Chicago's own law. Even a locally banned AR or AK could be in your vehicle in Chi under the municipal code. All this being said, I'd be discrete but would not stress out about bringing a gun along at all.

jmace, there is a threshold question before we can asnwer, do you hold a valid Texas CHL?

Better yet, have the wedding Indiana!! Hoosiers are good folks. I would call the City police or state troopers

Be wary, wary wary.
Dddat's all Folks.

The last time I was in Chicago, I saw a fellow walking down the street, right past two cops, with a boy scout hatchet sticking out of his back pocket.
The cops didn't even give him a second look.
Chicago might be the home of some of the most corrupt politicians in the country, but it's still the Midwest and not NY.
At one time, get caught by the police carrying a firearm and the charge was a felony.
But if they found it under the seat of the car, it was a misdemeanor.
Don't know if that's still the same, or not, though.

g.willikers said:

Be wary, wary wary.
Dddat's all Folks.

The last time I was in Chicago, I saw a fellow walking down the street, right past two cops, with a boy scout hatchet sticking out of his back pocket.
The cops didn't even give him a second look.
Chicago might be the home of some of the most corrupt politicians in the country, but it's still the Midwest and not NY.
At one time, get caught by the police carrying a firearm and the charge was a felony.
But it they found it under the seat of the car, it was a misdemeanor.
Don't know if that's still the same, or not, though.

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Getting caught with a loaded gun and no permit is the same no matter how it's being carried or possessed. IL law only stipulates that you have an IL CCW or are legal to carry in your own state. As said above if out of state and legal in your home state, then you cannot exit your vehicle with your firearm.

I'm not sure why every keeps saying Illinois honors other states CCW's. Handgunlaw.com says it's a no go for them honoring my Indiana permit.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Any changes to their laws or ordinances making them less restrictive are due to lawsuits, not a change in policy. They continue to push to make gun ownership difficult, if not impossible.

Attached is a link to USA Carry's reciprocity map. I can't speak to it's accuracy, but according to it Illinois does not honor Texas' resident CC permit. Carrying them as you described under current law is not a problem.

http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

At the risk of stating the obvious, if you're staying at a hotel you'll want to find out where you can store them. You'll want to confirm that the hotel has a safe in the room large enough to hold them. You don't want to leave them in your trunk, especially if valet parking is your only option, which you see with a number of downtown hotels.

Be aware that Chicago has an ordinance against laser sights. If you use them, I'd recommend either leaving them at home or removing them from your gun and storing them separately prior to entering Chicago.

Finally, given that the wedding is next summer, don't be surprised if current laws change. They're constantly trying to pass more restrictive ordinances in spite of contradictions to Illinois or Federal law. Be sure to obtain updated information closer to the wedding. It's been a common tactic for them to pass laws or ordinances that they know are not constitutional and force someone to sue them in order for it to be repealed. We live in a suburb located 10 miles outside of Chicago, and MidwayUSA and Cheaper Than Dirt will no longer ship to us. Per their customer service, they can't keep up with the changes in law and don't want to risk violating this week's laws.

I'd recommend contacting an attorney in the Chicago area prior to your trip to confirm our current laws. Remember what happened to the Pennsylvania mother who mistakenly brought a gun into New Jersey.

Illinois law in Chicago is a special thing. Back in the day, undocumented carry would get some a slap on the wrist, others would get tossed in the slammer, some would get the tar beaten out of them then booked, and if you happen to be a nicely dressed white woman, you get your gun back and get told to have a good day. The last example really happened...to my ex-wife.

NOMI WASP said:

I'm not sure why every keeps saying Illinois honors other states CCW's. Handgunlaw.com says it's a no go for them honoring my Indiana permit.



http://www.handgunlaw.us/

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No one here said that IL honors your permit go back and read the posts again.

IF you have a permit, or are legal to carry in your home state, you can carry a loaded and concealed pistol IN YOUR CAR. You may NOT exit your vehicle with it.

That is what has been said here multiple times and it is fact.

I'm not sure why every keeps saying Illinois honors other states CCW's. Handgunlaw.com says it's a no go for them honoring my Indiana permit.

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No is saying this.

The question before the OP is, does he have a license from Texas?

The answer to this question will dictate the answer.

I'm not sure why every keeps saying Illinois honors other states CCW's. Handgunlaw.com says it's a no go for them honoring my Indiana permit.

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Go back to handgunlaw.us and scroll down to the part that's entitled, "RV/Car carry without a permit/license". It's pretty clear that car carry is ok if you are permitted in your home state.

To be perfectly honest, if your visiting Chicago for a wedding I assume your probably staying downtown and the all the festivities will probably be in the Loop or right nearby; thus I wouldn't even break a sweat (or bring a gun.) Enjoy the wedding, the sites, and have a good time. Lots of things to see, places to visit, and great places to eat.

I've worked in the city and studied in the city for almost ten years, and that said, I wouldn't be troubled to carry because it's not like you be taking a side trip to Englewood or the south-side of Chicago to get a taste of it's 'culture'.

mg.mikael said:

To be perfectly honest, if your visiting Chicago for a wedding I assume your probably staying downtown and the all the festivities will probably be in the Loop or right nearby; thus I wouldn't even break a sweat (or bring a gun.) Enjoy the wedding, the sites, and have a good time. Lots of things to see, places to visit, and great places to eat.



I've worked in the city and studied in the city for almost ten years, and that said, I wouldn't be troubled to carry because it's not like you be taking a side trip to Englewood or the south-side of Chicago to get a taste of it's 'culture'.

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You never know when you will need it. I personally would never go anywhere without carrying even moreso in Chicago.

You never know when you will need it. I personally would never go anywhere without carrying even moreso in Chicago.

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Don't get me wrong, but for the most part downtown Chicago is safe from violent crime; most of the stories and crimes that give the city a bad rap happen way down there on the southside (which is a city of it's own.) Personally I feel safer downtown (River North, Loop) then I do out in the suburbs, but that's just my opinion.

mg.mikael said:

Don't get me wrong, but for the most part downtown Chicago is safe from violent crime; most of the stories and crimes that give the city a bad rap happen way down there on the southside (which is a city of it's own.) Personally I feel safer downtown (River North, Loop) then I do out in the suburbs, but that's just my opinion.

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I agree with you, most of the violence in Chicago is exactly where you would think it would be, downtown isn't nearly as bad.

I live a few hours south on I55 in a small town. We had an armed robbery with three armed robbers and shots fired a few months ago. Of course, it was dirtbags shooting involving drugs. That really opened up a lot if eyes that even in out nice little town, it happens.

You can have a loaded handgun in your vehicle in Illinois if you have a license from another state. Even without a license, you can have a loaded firearm in your hotel room. Just unload before you take your gun out of your car to carry it to your hotel room and load back up when you get in your room.