What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

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Live Free
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What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#1

Post by Live Free »

Soon I'll be traveling across this beautiful country where my travels will take me through Illinois to Chicago and then back out of the state again. I am fortunate to have some control over my travel route so I can travel through the same city/town on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Has anyone checked their weapon with a local law enforcement agency before entering a gun unfriendly state? How did you make the arrangements to do so? Did you use a small town police/sheriff or a big city agency like St Louis, MO police?

Any advise on how you handled this situation would be much appreciated.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#2

Post by Oldgringo »

The only advice that I could offer would be to avoid Illinois in general and Chicago in particular. They don't like guns.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#3

Post by C-dub »

Live Free wrote:Soon I'll be traveling across this beautiful country where my travels will take me through Illinois to Chicago and then back out of the state again. I am fortunate to have some control over my travel route so I can travel through the same city/town on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Has anyone checked their weapon with a local law enforcement agency before entering a gun unfriendly state? How did you make the arrangements to do so? Did you use a small town police/sheriff or a big city agency like St Louis, MO police?

Any advise on how you handled this situation would be much appreciated.
I don't have any real legal advice, but only what I have done the many times I've visit that state because I have family there.

Before crossing the border into IL, disarm, unload, and pack it in the trunk or somewhere not readily accessible the same as you would when travelling if you didn't have a CHL. Avoid Chicago if at all possible. Easy for me since my family doesn't live that far north. Obey all traffic laws as best you can to avoid drawing attention to yourself and giving someone reason to stop you. Chicago is the only REALLY insane place in IL. There might be some other smaller cities that are just as bad, but I am unaware of them. They are probably suburbs of Chicago if there are any. Most of the people, including LEOs, in the rest of the state, other than the laws themselves, are not too different than Texas or many other states.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#4

Post by Keith B »

The problem is you are traveling to Chicago and stopping. That nullifies the traveling exemption. I would suggest you contact a gun store in the Chicago area and see if they can offer a suggestion on how most people travel into the state and Chicago in particular. There is also the state site here http://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/firearmsfaq.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that answers some questions, but Chicago in general has the prohibition on firearms that you need to address. You might also contact the Illinois State Rifle Association http://www.isra.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and see what they can tell you.

EDIT TO ADD: I would not 'check' my gun with any law enforcement agency. They won;t usually do something like that. However, if you can't travel into Chicago, you may want to check it with a gun store/gunsmith outside of the Chicago area that is friendly and willing to hold it.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#5

Post by C-dub »

Great find Keith.
How can I legally transport a firearm on my person or in my vehicle?
There is more than one way to legally transport a firearm. However, in order to be in compliance with all statutes, it is recommended all firearms be transported:
Unloaded,
Enclosed in a case and,
By persons who have a valid FOID card.
What constitutes a legal "case" for transporting a firearm?
The Criminal Code refers to "a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container." However, the Wildlife Code is more specific, defining case as "a container specifically designed for the purpose of housing a gun or bow and arrow device which completely encloses such gun or bow and arrow device by being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened with no portion of the gun or bow and arrow device exposed."
How do I transport a firearm through an Illinois community with an ordinance that prohibits firearms or handguns?
Illinois' Unlawful Use of Weapons law does not preempt local ordinances from banning firearms. Persons carrying or transporting firearms through such communities could be subject to local firearm ordinances. It is recommended that you contact local authorities regarding their firearm ordinances.
If a non-resident is coming to Illinois to hunt and would like to bring their firearm, how do they legally transport it?
Non- residents must be legally eligible to possess or acquire firearms and ammunition in their state of residence. It is recommended that, in order to be in compliance with all statutes, non-residents transport all firearms:
Unloaded, and
Enclosed in a case, and
Not immediately accessible or broken down in a nonfunctioning state.
Is it legal to have ammunition in the case with the firearm?
Yes, so long as the firearm is unloaded and properly enclosed in a case.
I have a friend/relative who has a "conceal and carry" permit issued in the state in which they reside. Is the permit recognized in Illinois?
No. Non-residents are subject to Illinois law, restrictions, and penalties, and should be familiar with them if the non-resident plans to bring a firearm into the state of Illinois.
Since I don't know what Cook County or Chicago's current laws are, due to court rulings, it might be legal to transport a gun into and through Chicago following these guidelines.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#6

Post by Kythas »

My soon-to-be father in law lives right outside of Chicago. I'll hit him up for any advice.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#7

Post by C-dub »

Kythas wrote:My soon-to-be father in law lives right outside of Chicago. I'll hit him up for any advice.
Congratulations on the impending nuptials.

Condolences on the future FIL's location. What are his views on guns?
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#8

Post by Oldgringo »

I've lived in what they call "Southern Illinois" a couple of times. Away from the Chicago area, the people are pretty much like us except that they talk funny. That said, their anti-gun laws are still on their books.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#9

Post by The Annoyed Man »

I'd just spend my money elsewhere.
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Bank safe deposit box

#10

Post by Skydivesnake »

I had a similar issue traveling into Mexico and back a couple of years ago; if you want to leave a firearm somewhere, by far the easiest and most convenient option is to stop off at a bank on friendly territory and get a safe deposit box. I went to a bank of the same chain that I have a checking account with, which speeded up the paperwork, and all done I was in and out in 20mins. I packed my firearm in one of those bubble mailing envelopes, with the spare mags, folder etc in another. I could not find a gun store that would hold the gun for me.

Hope that helps - SDS
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#11

Post by WildBill »

Keith B wrote:I would not 'check' my gun with any law enforcement agency. They won;t usually do something like that. However, if you can't travel into Chicago, you may want to check it with a gun store/gunsmith outside of the Chicago area that is friendly and willing to hold it.
This may have been an option in the "good old days" or in a small town where you personally know the chief of police or an officer. IMO, most departments would not want to bother or take the liability of storing personal property.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#12

Post by gringo pistolero »

Live Free wrote:Soon I'll be traveling across this beautiful country where my travels will take me through Illinois to Chicago and then back out of the state again. I am fortunate to have some control over my travel route so I can travel through the same city/town on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
If you have enough control of your route, I strongly suggest avoiding the places in red like the plague they are, and seriously think about avoiding the places in pink too.

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Last edited by gringo pistolero on Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#13

Post by Live Free »

After reading my own question and your responses it makes since that most (if not all) LE agencies would not want the liability of storing a civilian's firearm, especially a non constituent. I guess my mind was in Mayberry when I started my brain storming session.

The idea of a gun store / FFL / Pawn Shop where you pay for a service makes a bit more since and one I'll look into. I can see a larger commercial operation like Academy wouldn't do this but maybe a mom and pop shop.

The bank safety deposit box is a great idea. I have no idea on how hard it is to get a box with an out of state license, perhaps it's a no brainier.

Thank everyone for all the good advise so far, please keep the ideas coming.
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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#14

Post by The Annoyed Man »

gringo pistolero wrote:
Live Free wrote:Soon I'll be traveling across this beautiful country where my travels will take me through Illinois to Chicago and then back out of the state again. I am fortunate to have some control over my travel route so I can travel through the same city/town on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
If you have enough control of your route, I strongly suggest avoiding the places in red like the plague they are, and seriously think about avoiding the places in pink too.

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Re: What to do with CCW while travleing through Illinois?

#15

Post by flb_78 »

The kink here is venturing into Cook County. Anywhere else, you'd be fine with it encased and unloaded. You can even keep it on the front seat as long as it's encased.

Me, I'd probably put a lockbox in the trunk and bolt it down solid and lock it in there, keep quiet about it, and obey all traffic laws.
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