The Illinois Gun Regulations You Should Know and What to Expect
Gun ownership is a huge responsibility for those interested in selling, maintaining, or collecting firearms. Whether you‚ are a gun enthusiast, a gunsmith, salesman, or an agent of the law, you need to be aware of the rules and regulations set aside by our government, and most importantly your local state government. Without speaking to the specific rules of each individual state or referring to the official documentation of the federal firearm regulations, here are some of the general laws you may see:
- Must have a license or permit in order to purchase and/or possess firearms.
- Individual firearms must be registered with the police, or other law enforcement agencies.
- Some weapons are restricted in specific states, or there are restrictions on the number of rounds a magazine is allowed to hold. NFA weapons are those that are heavily restricted by the Federal Government. Such firearms included are automatic firearms, short-barreled shotguns, and short-barreled rifles.
- All states allow some form of concealed carry, but there are other restrictions when it comes to open carry.
- Some states require background checks before you can purchase a firearm.
Although these rules are more general (with the exception of NFA weapons), you will see some form of these restrictions set in place with each state you visit, varying in strictness. For residents of Illinois (where Ultrasonic Power Corporation is headquartered), here is a more specific set of laws which you must abide by:
- Illinois gun owners are required to have a FOID (Firearm Owners Identification) Card in order to purchase/own a firearm.
- There are no standing laws in Illinois requiring you to register your firearm(s) with local authorities.
- You may acquire a license to conceal carry handguns, but only if your license is through the Illinois State Police.
- Open Carry is not allowed in Illinois.
- NFA Weapons are still restricted.
- While passing through Illinois, if you have concealed carry through your own state‚ass laws, you may continue uninhibited, as long as your firearm(s) remain in your vehicle.
- Background checks are required for private gun sales in Illinois. Sellers must verify the buyer‚ass FOID card with the Illinois State Police, and must keep record of the sale for at least 10 years.
Is Illinois not your state? If you are interested in the gun laws of other states, you may check out the NRA‚ass (National Rifle Association) webpage to find out more.