Jon,
This is from the statute on the FOID card:
(430 ILCS 65/1.1) (from Ch. 38, par. 83‑1.1)
Sec. 1.1. For purposes of this Act:
"Counterfeit" means to copy or imitate, without legal authority, with intent to deceive.
"Firearm" means any device, by whatever name known, which is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosion, expansion of gas or escape of gas; excluding, however:
(1) any pneumatic gun, spring gun, paint ball gun or
B‑B gun which either expels a single globular projectile not exceeding .18 inch in diameter and which has a maximum muzzle velocity of less than 700 feet per second or breakable paint balls containing washable marking colors;
(2) any device used exclusively for signalling or
safety and required or recommended by the United States Coast Guard or the Interstate Commerce Commission;
(3) any device used exclusively for the firing of
stud cartridges, explosive rivets or similar industrial ammunition; and
(4) an antique firearm (other than a machine‑gun)
which, although designed as a weapon, the Department of State Police finds by reason of the date of its manufacture, value, design, and other characteristics is primarily a collector's item and is not likely to be used as a weapon.
"Firearm ammunition" means any self‑contained cartridge or shotgun shell, by whatever name known, which is designed to be used or adaptable to use in a firearm; excluding, however:
(1) any ammunition exclusively designed for use with
a device used exclusively for signalling or safety and required or recommended by the United States Coast Guard or the Interstate Commerce Commission; and
(2) any ammunition designed exclusively for use with
a stud or rivet driver or other similar industrial ammunition.
(Source: P.A. 91‑357, eff. 7‑29‑99; 92‑414, eff. 1‑1‑02.)
Once again the legislature has been sufficiently vague to allow all kinds of interpretations. I don't know of any officers around here who've ever asked for a FOID when encountering a blackpowder gun. The statute defines ammunition as being self contained so I don't think a FOID is necessary for components even though many retailers will err on the side of caution. Heck, I got in last night and my 19 year old son told me I would have to go buy him some .22LR because Wal-Mart wouldn't sell him any this time because it could be used in a handgun. They sold him 100 rounds of 12 gauge but the .22s were a no go even when he told them it was for his rifle.
Don, if you read the staute on UUW it states:
(4) Carries or possesses in any vehicle or concealed
on or about his person except when on his land or in his own abode or fixed place of business any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm, except that this subsection (a) (4) does not apply to or affect transportation of weapons that meet one of the following conditions:
The key here is that it says any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm. There is no definition in the UUW statute that says a black poweder pistol or revolver isn't a pistol or revolver for the purposes or the statute. If you look at the FOID law it would appear to exclude curios and relics, but I'm not aware of any case law on it. As we all know, laws pertaining to weapons and their use in Illinois are vague and confusing....
Jeff