Illinois’ law classifies firearms as assault weapons if (1) they are included on a list of specific firearm models or are copies, duplicates, variants, or altered facsimiles with the capability of those specified firearms, or (2) if they include certain combinations of features or characteristics that are indicative of assaultive purposes. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1), (2)

Illinois law provides an exception for people to remain in continued possession of assault weapons they legally obtained and possessed before the assault weapons law went into effect. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d)

People who wish to qualify for this exemption and remain in lawful possession of an assault weapon, were required to electronically submit an endorsement affidavit form to the Illinois State Police by October 1, 2023, with specified information including the weapon’s make, model, and serial number and the person’s Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card number. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d); 430 ILCS 65/4.1

Large Capacity Magazines: The law generally defines a “large capacity ammunition feeding device” as a magazine (or other similar device) that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition for long guns (including rifles and shotguns) or more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns. A magazine or similar device is not subject to this definition if it has been made permanently inoperable. 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10

Machine Guns:  Illinois defines a machine gun as “any weapon, which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manually reloading by a single function of the trigger, including the frame or receiver of any such weapon.” Any combination of parts designed or intended for use in converting any weapon into a machine gun, or any combination or parts from which a machine gun can be assembled, also constitutes a machine gun for purposes of these prohibitions. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-1(a)(7)(i)

Ghost Guns: Restrictions exist on selling or transferring unserialized firearms and unserialized unfinished frames or receivers to also generally prohibit (1) knowingly possessing, transporting, or receiving an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver5 and (2) knowingly possessing, transporting, receiving, or purchasing an unserialized firearm. These restrictions are subject to certain exceptions, including if the unfinished frame or receiver is possessed or transported for transfer to a licensed firearms importer or manufacturer or the party possessing or receiving the unserialized firearm or unfinished frame or receiver is a federally licensed importer or manufacturer. The law provided processes for how people in possession of unserialized firearms and unserialized unfinished frames and receivers could lawfully get their weapon serialized prior to November 14, 2022, and required federally licensed dealers and other authorized federal licensees imprinting those serial numbers to maintain records of those serial numbers and confirm the validity of the owner’s Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card prior to returning the weapon to the owner. 720 ILCS 5/24-5.1(c)-(f)

Illinois prohibits the purchase or possession of ammunition by people who are ineligible to purchase or possess firearms under state law.

Illinois generally prohibits people under the age of 21 from obtaining a FOID card, which is required to purchase or possess ammunition. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/2

Illinois prohibits the knowing manufacture, sale, purchase, possession, or carrying of any armor-piercing bullet, dragon’s breath shotgun shell, bolo shell, or flechette shell. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-2.1(a

FOID cards are good for a period of 10 years.

Application for a FOID card is made to the Illinois State Police. FOID applications and instructions can be found online at: Firearms Services

An applicant is entitled to a FOID card if he:

(i) He or she is 21 years of age or over, or if he or she is under 21 years of age that he or she has the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian to possess and acquire firearms and firearm ammunition and that he or she has never been convicted of a misdemeanor other than a traffic offense or adjudged delinquent, provided, however, that such parent or legal guardian is not an individual prohibited from having a Firearm Owner's Identification Card and files an affidavit with the Department as prescribed by the Department stating that he or she is not an individual prohibited from having a Card;

(ii) He or she has not been convicted of a felony under the laws of this or any other jurisdiction;

(iii) He or she is not addicted to narcotics;

(iv) He or she has not been a patient in a mental health facility within the past 5 years or, if he or she has been a patient in a mental health facility more than 5 years ago submit the certification required under subsection (u) of Section 8 of this Act;

(v) He or she is not intellectually disabled;

(vi) He or she is not an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States under the laws of the United States;

(vii) He or she is not subject to an existing order of protection prohibiting him or her from possessing a firearm;

(viii) He or she has not been convicted within the past 5 years of battery, assault, aggravated assault, violation of an order of protection, or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction, in which a firearm was used or possessed;

(ix) He or she has not been convicted of domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction committed before, on or after January 1, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-158). If the applicant knowingly and intelligently waives the right to have an offense described in this clause (ix) tried by a jury, and by guilty plea or otherwise, results in a conviction for an offense in which a domestic relationship is not a required element of the offense but in which a determination of the applicability of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9) is made under Section 112A-11.1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, an entry by the court of a judgment of conviction for that offense shall be grounds for denying the issuance of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card under this Section;

(xi) He or she is not an alien who has been admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa (as that term is defined in Section 101(a) (26) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(26))), or that he or she is an alien who has been lawfully admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa if that alien is:

(1) admitted to the United States for lawful hunting or sporting purposes;

(2) an official representative of a foreign government who is:

(A) accredited to the United States Government or the Government's mission to an international organization having its headquarters in the United States; or

(B) en route to or from another country to which that alien is accredited;

(3) an official of a foreign government or distinguished foreign visitor who has been so designated by the Department of State;

(4) a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly foreign government entering the United States on official business; or

(5) one who has received a waiver from the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(3);

(xii) He or she is not a minor subject to a petition filed under Section 5-520 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 alleging that the minor is a delinquent minor for the commission of an offense that if committed by an adult would be a felony;

(xiii) He or she is not an adult who had been adjudicated a delinquent minor under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for the commission of an offense that if committed by an adult would be a felony;

(xiv) He or she is a resident of the State of Illinois;

(xv) He or she has not been adjudicated as a mentally disabled person;

(xvi) He or she has not been involuntarily admitted into a mental health facility; and

(xvii) He or she is not developmentally disabled; and

(3) Upon request by the Department of State Police, sign a release on a form prescribed by the Department of State Police waiving any right to confidentiality and requesting the disclosure to the Department of State Police of limited mental health institution admission information from another state, the District of Columbia, any other territory of the United States, or a foreign nation concerning the applicant for the sole purpose of determining whether the applicant is or was a patient in a mental health institution and disqualified because of that status from receiving a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. No mental health care or treatment records may be requested. The information received shall be destroyed within one year of receipt. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/4(a).

DSP must generally deny an application for, or revoke and seize, a FOID card, if DSP finds that the applicant or cardholder is or was at the time of issuance subject to a court protective order, including a Firearms Restraining Order, domestic violence protective order, stalking no contact order, or civil no contact order

See 'Firearm Licensing' section for FOID card details.

Concealed Carry License: 

• Five-year concealed carry permits will be issued to Illinois residents at least 21 years of age with a valid FOID card 90 days after a qualified application is submitted.
• Pay a $150 fee;
• Be subjected to fingerprinting for an additional fee in order to avoid delayed processing of one’s application;
• Undergo 16 hours of training (which includes a “live fire” component).  Eight hours of prior training may be credited   if it is “approved by the Department [of State Police] and recognized under the laws of another state or if the applicant is an active, retired, or honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces.”
• A list of approved instructors is available on the Illinois State Police website: www.isp.state.il.us/firearms/ccw/
• A list of approved curricula by the Ilinois State Police: www.isp.state.il.us/firearms/ccw/CCWApprovedCurriculum.pdf

An applicant will be disqualified if:

• Convicted or found guilty in Illinois or any other state of:
• 2 or more violations related to driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof, within the last 5 years.
• A misdemeanor involving the use or threat of physical force or violence to any person within the last 5 years.
• Applicant is the subject of a pending arrest warrant, prosecution, or proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification.
• Applicant has been in a residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification, or drug treatment within the last 5 years.
• Any law enforcement agency may object to the issuance of a license to an otherwise qualified applicant on the basis of reasonable suspicion that the applicant presents a danger to self or others or is a threat to public safety.    Such an objection sends the application for review by the Concealed Carry Licensing Board, which consists of a total of 7 judicial, law enforcement, and mental health professionals appointed by the Governor.  The Board generally will issue a decision in 30 days as to whether it has determined, by a preponderance of the evidence, if the applicant is eligible or ineligible for a license.  

A public or private elementary or secondary school;

A pre-school or child care facility;

Any area under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government;1

Any building designated for matters before a circuit court, appellate court, and/or under the control of the Supreme Court;

Any building under the control of a unit of local government;

An adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison, or jail;

A public or private hospital or hospital affiliate, mental health facility, or nursing home;

Public transportation facilities, buses, trains or other forms of public transportation;

An establishment that serves alcohol on its premises;

Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government;

Any public playground;

Any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district;

Any real property under the control of the Cook County Forest Preserve District;

Any public or private community college, college, or university;

Any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a gaming facility licensed under the Riverboat Gambling Act or the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, including an inter-track wagering location licensee;

Any stadium, arena, or the real property or parking area under the control of a stadium, arena, or any collegiate or professional sporting event;

Any public library;

Any airport;

Any amusement park;

Any zoo or museum;

Any street, driveway, parking area, property, building, or facility owned, leased, controlled or used by a nuclear energy, storage, weapons or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission; or

Any area where firearms are prohibited under federal law.

Illinois has a separate background check requirement for firearm transfers that occur on the grounds of a gun show, which similarly require the unlicensed seller, or a licensed gun dealer or gun show promoter or vendor to contact DSP to conduct a background check on the prospective transferee. This gun show background check requires a broader background check inquiry into the transferee’s criminal history and other records, instead of the standard background check described above, which requires DSP to verify whether the transferee’s FOID remains valid. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/3(a-5), (a-15)(4)

Any ordinance or regulation, or portion thereof, enacted on or before the date of the Amendment (July 9, 2013) that imposed regulations or restrictions on a holder of a valid FOID Card in a manner that is inconsistent with the FOID Card Act, is invalid in its application to a holder of a valid FOID Card. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/13.1(b)

Firearms Restraining Orders (FRO) require the petitioner to file an affidavit or verified petition with the circuit court in the county where the respondent resides alleging that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others in the near future by having in his or her custody or control, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm. In most cases, the court is required to hold a hearing on the matter within 30 days. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 67/40(a)

If the order is granted, the court will issue a 6-month FRO prohibiting the respondent from possessing or receiving firearms for the duration of the order. In considering whether to issue a 6-month FRO, the court is directed to consider evidence including, but not limited to, the following:

The unlawful and reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm by the respondent.

The history of use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force by the respondent against another person.

Any prior arrest of the respondent for a felony offense.

Evidence of the abuse of controlled substances or alcohol by the respondent.

A recent threat of violence or act of violence by the respondent directed toward himself, herself, or another.

A violation of an emergency order of protection issued under Section 217 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or Section 112A-17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or of an order of protection issued under Section 214 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 or Section 112A-14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.

A pattern of violent acts or violent threats, including, but not limited to, threats of violence or acts of violence by the respondent directed toward himself, herself, or another.

If the court issues an FRO, it must also order the respondent to temporarily transfer to law enforcement any firearms, FOID Card, or concealed carry license in their possession in accordance with Illinois’ generally applicable firearm relinquishment laws.5 If the court finds probable cause that the respondent already possesses firearms, the court is also required to issue a search warrant directing a law enforcement agency to seize the respondent’s firearms. The court may, as part of that warrant, direct the law enforcement agency to search the respondent’s residence and other places where the court finds there is probable cause to believe he or she is likely to possess the firearms.

In especially urgent cases, petitioners can request an emergency FRO by filing an affidavit or verified pleading with the court alleging that the respondent poses an “immediate and present danger” of causing personal injury to self or others by having in his or her custody or control, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm. In such cases, courts are required to hold an ex parte hearing (without waiting for the respondent to receive notice of the hearing) on the same day the emergency petition is filed or the next day the court is in session. If the judge finds probable cause to believe the respondent poses an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to themselves or others with firearms, the judge is directed to issue an emergency FRO, which generally lasts for up to 14 days. If the court also finds probable cause that the respondent already possesses firearms, the court is also required to issue a search warrant directing a law enforcement agency to seize the respondent’s firearms. The court may, as part of that warrant, direct the law enforcement agency to search the respondent’s residence and other places where the court finds there is probable cause to believe he or she is likely to possess the firearms. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 67/35(d), (e)