Flying with a handgun in Illinois

[MFH]

In August we are leaving for Alaska. We will be flying out of O'hare. The airlines and TSA have no problem with handguns in checked baggage. My concern is with the local/municipal regulations. Information from CHP was that you must have "proof of registration and proof of ownership" for the handgun "in case you get checked". I certainly do not have all of my receipts and since there is no registration in downstate, proof of registration is impossible. I know, the best thing would be to not get anywhere near cook county, but we already have the tickets. Has anyone flown out of O'hare, and was there any problem? I hope that I am being overly concerned.

Thanks!

MFH

 

[shadow 1]

I fly out of O'Hare on a weekely basis and I am always checking my weapon(s) usually just my Glock, but on occassion I have checked my Remmy and RRA. I have had no problems with any locals looking into my stuff. I carry my valid FOID, my weapons are unloaded, my ammo cased seperately all in locked Pelican cases. I have never been stopped by the Chicago Cops working the airport detail, even when I have walked by their booth with all my junk, which I do on every occassion. I live in McHenry County. If you just follow the Illinois transport laws and have your vaild FOID with you, you shoud be good to go.
The registration part comes from a Chicago Municpal Code which say all city residents must register their firearms if they live in the city and since guns are effectively outlawd in the city, nobody but coppers and security folks with valid FOID, FAC and a letter from their employer may register their personally owned firearms.
I hope this helps, there may be other more expanded views out there.

 

[Specialized]

Funny You Should Mention That...

Just heard from some of my shooting buddies the other night about this -- one of them was talking about the hassle he got from CPD officers at Midway Airport. Believe it or not, the TSA guys intervened on his behalf! They apparently told the cops that the guy was in compliance with airline and TSA regulations for checking a firearm, and that the cops shouldn't make a big deal out of it. My friend was allowed to go on his way to the gate after that.

Kinda scary when the feds are the ones having to vouch for law-abiding citizens getting rousted by the local police. It also says something about the mindset of the Chicago police, and to a lesser extent many of the other LE organizations in Illinois. I don't really know why I live here, knowing that stuff like this goes on.

A few others have said that their experience was positive, and they each had given the airlines a call (and a heads-up) to check rules before going to the airport. You might try the same thing before you go.

Hope this helps -- good luck!

Specialized

 

[44Brent]

What is "CHP"? Chicago Handgun Police?

 

[MFH]

oops!

CHP = CPD

but chicago handgun police would work too!