Navigating Illinois’s gun laws is essential for responsible gun owners and enthusiasts. This 2025 guide covers ghost guns, 80% lowers, concealed carry, magazine limits, and more, ensuring you stay compliant and informed in Illinois. For related resources, check out our detailed breakdown of ghost gun laws, 80% lowers, and more.
Summary and Gun-Friendliness Rating for Illinois
Summary: Illinois enforces strict gun laws, including an assault weapons ban, a 10/15-round magazine limit, a 3-day waiting period, red flag laws, and universal background checks, with shall-issue concealed carry.
Gun-Friendliness Rating:
13% – 0 = Strictest gun laws, 100 = Most gun-friendly
Assault Weapons Ban in Illinois
Illinois enforces a ban on certain firearms defined as assault weapons. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Magazine Capacity Limits in Illinois
Illinois restricts firearm magazines to a maximum capacity of 10/15 rounds. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Ghost Gun Laws in Illinois
Illinois regulates ghost guns, typically requiring serialization and background checks for frames and receivers. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Concealed Carry in Illinois
- Permit Type:
- Shall-issue (Giffords Law Center)
- Description:
- Illinois is a shall-issue state, meaning permits are issued to qualified applicants who meet statutory requirements.
Waiting Period in Illinois
Illinois enforces a 3-day waiting period for firearm purchases. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Red Flag Laws in Illinois
Illinois has enacted red flag laws, allowing temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a danger. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Safe Storage Requirements in Illinois
Requirement Level: Weak (Source: Giffords Law Center)
Description: Illinois enforces basic safe storage rules, often related to preventing child access.
Background Checks in Illinois
Illinois mandates universal background checks for nearly all firearm sales, including private transfers. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Open Carry in Illinois
Open carry of firearms is generally allowed in Illinois, potentially subject to local restrictions or permit requirements in certain areas. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Types of Guns Regulated in Illinois
In addition to assault weapons, Illinois may regulate other specific types of firearms. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Important Legal Cases in Illinois
- Pritzker v. YML (ongoing): Assault weapons ban challenge (Source: Giffords Law Center)
- Ezell v. Chicago (2011): Gun range restrictions
- Illinois v. Brown (2017): Firearm licensing laws
- People v. Chairez (2018): Carry law constitutionality
Our Opinion on Illinois’s Gun Laws
As advocates for the Second Amendment, Husky Armory finds Illinois’s gun laws, with a dismal rating of 13/100, to be a severe infringement on constitutional rights. Illinois enforces strict gun laws, including an assault weapons ban, a 10/15-round magazine limit, a 3-day waiting period, red flag laws, and universal background checks, with shall-issue concealed carry—a litany of restrictions that stifles the freedoms of law-abiding citizens while doing little to address actual crime. The right to bear arms is a cornerstone of American liberty, and Illinois’s heavy-handed approach undermines that fundamental principle.
We urge Illinois to reconsider its stance, particularly on measures like assault weapons bans and universal background checks, which disproportionately burden responsible gun owners. The Second Amendment exists to protect against such overreach, and Illinois must work to dismantle these barriers to ensure its citizens can exercise their rights without fear of government intrusion. Liberty demands nothing less.
Disclaimer: This guide provides a general overview and is not legal advice. Gun laws change frequently. Always consult official state statutes and qualified legal counsel for specific guidance. Information primarily sourced from Giffords Law Center and state legislative websites as of April 2025.
