Hints for surviving an extended stay in Illinois

[zaijian]

Looks like I will be spending a few weeks in Illinois for work -
as an Ohio CCW and self-defense uh, enthusiast, what tips and advice can you give me?

Hopefully I can spend as much time as possible in gun-friendlier Missouri.

Also, any good ranges in the St. Louis area?

 

[Jeff White]

Where are you going to be, metro-east area? Your Ohio CCW will be good in Missouri. Forget about carrying on this side of the river. If you put the pistol in a case, with a loaded magazine not in the firearm, you'd be technically legal. The case has to be zipped, etc. I don't know if the police in the area you're staying will know that or not. The law is rather vague and we have a couple court districts where this hasn't been upheld. It would ruin your visit to have to be the test case.

There is a pretty nice indoor range in Belleville on South Illinois Street. Send me an e-mail or PM, maybe we can get together to do some shooting if schedules work out.

Jeff

 

[lee n. field]

Sounds like you're already doing the most important thing: staying away from Chicagometropolitanarea.

Don Gwinn I think is from that general area of the state. Hopefully he will chime in.

 

[JoeWang]

If you're driving around make sure everything is in the trunk, separated.

The ISP will crap their pants if they find a handgun, unloaded, locked up or not in the passenger compartment.

Illinois is a state that likes their police officers. They hire a lot of them to shake down visitors for traffic fine revenue. It'd make Sgt. Stedenko's collar of the year to arrest a motorist with a G1 Glock 19.

I wouldn't take a gun to IL at if I'd have out of town (non-MO) plates.

 

[wdlsguy]

We just beat this subject to death on www.packing.org. The official advice from the Illinois State Police web site follows:

It is recommended that, in order to be in compliance with all statutes, non-residents transport all firearms:
1. Unloaded, and
2. Enclosed in a case, and
3. Not immediately accessible or broken down in a nonfunctioning state.

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

The first two items satisfy the FOID law. The last item satisfies the UUW law.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

A fun field trip to St Louis could involve going to one of John Ross's classes. One fee includes guns, (including full auto) ammo, and a BBQ. I have not gone, but others have mentioned that they are fun!

http://john-ross.net/

 

[zaijian]

Sweet, looks like that Belleville range is less than 10 miles from my workplace.

Still don't know where my lodgings will be, or even if I will go out there yet.

I'll fill y'all in when I find out.

Hopefully, I can find lodgings on the MO side, and not have to worry about IL's worthless gun control.

 

[Jeff White]

zaijian said;

Sweet, looks like that Belleville range is less than 10 miles from my workplace.

Great...I have access to a farm near Nashville and my own range up this direction if the weather breaks.

Hopefully, I can find lodgings on the MO side, and not have to worry about IL's worthless gun control.

If you work on this side of the river, the commute can be pretty bad. A lot of construction going on on I64 right now. As a non-resident the FOID law doesn't apply to you.

JoeWang said;

The ISP will crap their pants if they find a handgun, unloaded, locked up or not in the passenger compartment.

How many troopers do you personally know?

Illinois is a state that likes their police officers. They hire a lot of them to shake down visitors for traffic fine revenue. It'd make Sgt. Stedenko's collar of the year to arrest a motorist with a G1 Glock 19.

Hmm...my chief never told me to shake down visitors for traffic fine revenue. I guess he didn't get the memo from Springfield . I can relate an incident that happened a couple months ago, where a motorist from TN was broke down on the side of the road near here. It was around 1:30 am when a deputy checked him to see if he needed assistance. Since it was late at night and he was far from home, the motorist took the precaution of arming himself. He informed the deputy he was armed when he walked up. He had no CCW permit from TN. A trooper backed up the deputy. After establishing that the motorist was not wanted, the weapon wasn't stolen and he had help on the way, the officers left him waiting on the side of the road for his tow with his firearm. Yes this happened in gun unfriendly Illinois. I have first hand knowledge that this is what happened because I listened to the stop on the radio in my squad car. You can't judge the entire state by the same standard you judge Chicago! :banghead:

 

[NMshooter]

Schaumberg wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't want to live there. Someone needs to open an Uno's here in Albuquerque.

 

[B36]

Illinois

It is sad. Many fine troopers there, but a few cause a bad rep. I avoid the state if possible. If I must go thru, normally try to drive straight thru with no stops.

Ten or so years ago, a Jeep with Indiana plates would be enough to get you pulled over on I70s East end, by at least one trooper.

One positive note, on I70 the semis do not blow you off of the road. The only state I know of that semis drive the speed limit, so troopers must enforce the limit.

Last, south of Springfield is probably more forgiving than north.

The real key to a safe and sane trip, is follow the law, and do not get stopped.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Honestly, if you stay on the IL side of the river and drive into St. Louis, you stand a lot better chance of being squished against the side of an eighteen wheeler than being robbed, IMHO. I love the arch and the City Museum in STL, but their roads are just frightening. My wife won't even drive into STL anymore after she almost got us all killed. I tried to tell her I'm not any better at not getting us killed in that kind of chaos, but to no avail.

You've been given good advice so far. I don't have much to add to it. If you're in the central part of the state, get in touch and I'll show you where to get dinner.

 

[zaijian]

Speaking of eating.....




NOOOOOOOOOO the nearest Chipotle is 130 miles away!


Whew, a Sam's Club! I'm saved!


And there's a Dave and Buster's nearby - sounds like a good opportunity to blow some per diem money.

 

[bigred0383]

I would have to agree with the above: Just keep everything SEPERATE.

 

[DougCxx]

The Belleville Shooting range is two blocks north of the center of town. The center intersection of town has a big round veterans' memorial fountain that you only drive counter-clockwise around.

Not a lot of parking but not a lot of comparable options anywhere nearby, in terms of public ranges. Some nice club ranges on the Mo side, waaaayy out beyond the metro area, but they are all private.
[edit]
.......
Any of you local guys know what's going on with the big-deal Sparta range thing? Is it open, or even started being built?
~

 

[zaijian]

I'll have my handguns with me after the new year, and I am definitely interested in getting some high-roaders together to hunt paper.

Hmm... does the range in Bellevue have guns for rent?

 

[DougCxx]

They have rental guns, even some FA items.
I don't know what all they have though, it's been a while since I've been and I never rented any myself, so I never really looked.
~