Illinois

[dieselman]

Driving to Texas tomorrow with two friends for a week of wild boar slaying, unfortunately have to drive through IL. I emailed IL state police and asked how we can transport our firearms/ammunition as to be in accordance with their laws, but apparently they decided it was insignificant and failed to respond to said email. So, how can I transport my firearms through IL without any trouble? We will have both long guns and handguns, those of us bringing handguns have valid IN LTCH's, as well as ammunition. Vehicle is an extended cab pickup with toolbox in the bed.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I'm not an expert, but I'd say first off, give them no reason to pull you over and then have to search your vehicle(s). Secondly, un load them, lock your unloaded guns in a container where you are not readily accessible to them, and keep your ammo in a separate place away from your guns. Don't leave them in sight in your vehicle while parked at a gas station, etc. Better yet, don't stop in IL if you don't have to!

 

[mrortega]

Driving to Texas tomorrow with two friends for a week of wild boar slaying, unfortunately have to drive through IL. I emailed IL state police and asked how we can transport our firearms/ammunition as to be in accordance with their laws, but apparently they decided it was insignificant and failed to respond to said email. So, how can I transport my firearms through IL without any trouble? We will have both long guns and handguns, those of us bringing handguns have valid IN LTCH's, as well as ammunition. Vehicle is an extended cab pickup with toolbox in the bed.

The only way you can legally transport thru Ill is by having your weapons unloaded, cased and stored in a not-easily accessable place in your vehicle with ammunition stored away from the weapon. Federal law allows this in all states.

 

[indykid]

Illinois supreme court ruled you can have firearms in your vehicle in the following:

Docket No. 109130.
IN THE
S U P R EM E C O U R T
OF
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. LEONARD HOLMES, JR., Appellant.Opinion filed April 7, 2011.

For the complete document, Google is your friend!

 

[Eddie]

Illinois supreme court ruled you can have firearms in your vehicle in the following:

Docket No. 109130.
IN THE
S U P R EM E C O U R T
OF
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. LEONARD HOLMES, JR., Appellant.Opinion filed April 7, 2011.

For the complete document, Google is your friend!

Here is a link to the above cited case. You might want to read it carefully before you take your gun into Illinois:

http://www.state.il.us/court/opinions/SupremeCourt/2011/April/109130.pdf

Here is a link to the Illinois State Police Website with instructions on how to transport your weapons in Illinois. I would suggest printing off the instructions and having them with you:

Firearm Owner's Frequently Asked Questions

 

[dieselman]

we dont plan on stopping and will drive close to the speed limit the whole time. if we are pulled over there would be no reason to search the vehicle unless the officer were to find out we had firearms in the vehicle (not sure if that is probable cause for a search in IL)

 

[lrahm]

Like GodFearingGunToting said, give no reason to be stopped. Have a safe trip.

 

[dieselman]

As of now our plan is to have the guns locked in the toolbox, ammo in .50 cal cans in the bed... not sure what to do with carry guns though?

 

[Eddie]

As of now our plan is to have the guns locked in the toolbox, ammo in .50 cal cans in the bed... not sure what to do with carry guns though?

For what it is worth I have to go over there once a week or so. When I go, I unload my gun and put the magazines in the glove box and lock it. Then I take the slide off the pistol and lock the slide and the receiver in my car gun vault. It stays that way until I am back across the state line because it isn't worth the risk to me.

 

[Bert]

there are other routes .longer sure , but you won't be in jail in Ill.

 

[mk2ja]

This site should be helpful to you, too

NRA-ILA :: Guide To The Interstate Transportation Of Firearms

 

[mk2ja]

Since you will be transporting firearms from one place where you may legally possess and transport the firearm to another, you are covered by USC TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 44, § 926A, often called the Federal Firearms Transportation Statute (FFTS).

In short, the FFTS states that your firearms must be unloaded and stored in a separate compartment not readily accessible by either the driver or passengers, and ammunition must be kept separate from the location of the firearms and must also not be readily accessible by either the driver or passengers.
Source: United States Code: Title 18,926A. Interstate transportation of firearms | LII / Legal Information Institute

The safest bet for you, legally, would probably be to transport your firearms in that manner for the entirety of the trip. If you choose to do otherwise, you should verify the laws in the other states through which you must travel to verify you are allowed to carry while in a car on your Indiana LTCH and whether it may need to be uncovered (à la the "Buckeye Tuck") and so forth.

I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice.

 

[mrjarrell]

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...rt_allows_nonresidents_to_transport_guns.html

 

[SEIndSAM]

Just make sure that all of the firearms are unloaded and in a locked, latched or other closed container where it's not readily accessible. You will be fine.

 

[furbymac]

The only way you can legally transport thru Ill is by having your weapons unloaded, cased and stored in a not-easily accessable place in your vehicle with ammunition stored away from the weapon. Federal law allows this in all states.

as long as you are allowed to posses a firearm in the state your are traveling to.

 

[MrSmitty]

I would go to Texas through Tennessee, and Arkanas, then no worries!

 

[ryknoll3]

While IL has some crappy gun laws, it's not the Gestapo scenario that everyone portrays here.

The laws are quite clear and not that hard to abide by. Up until 7/1, they were actually more permissive with handgun transportation and use than IN.

Here's the skinny:

The gun must be unloaded, enclosed in a case and not readily accessible. The ammo can be with the gun, even loaded into mags, but mags not in the gun. That's it, that's all there is to it. No need to tape ammo to your front bumper and put the gun in the trunk.

The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that:
1) Your center console counts as a case.
2) The LTCH qualifies as a FOID for purposes of IL law.

However, I'm not sure how many LEO's know about this, and I wouldn't want to have that argument on the side of the road, so carry according to their law.

 

[04FXSTS]

One thing I will add; do NOT volounteer any information about having firearms in the vehicle and if asked do not consent to a search. If a cop askes then he does not have probable cause and refusing a search is not probable cause. Drive safe, Jim.

 

[Bill of Rights]

One point not yet mentioned in re: giving them a reason to stop you.... Have you checked the vehicle you'll be in for stickers? NRA, DTOM, or any pro-gun "funnies" might be enough to draw the attention of Officer Unfriendly.

In other words, now that they've defecated upon the 2A as much as they can, theyve decided to go after the 1A, too.

You've gotten good advice. Hopefully, mine will add to it. Have a safe and fun trip, and we need a report on your return.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[spec4]

The console was the result of the Diggins case a few years back. Prior, IIRC the law said the case or container must be designed to carry a weapon. The court ruled (after diggins had done time) that the console is a case that meets the requirements of teh Illinois wildlife code. IANAL, as a former Illannoy residene, I carried the gun and mag, unloaded, in a zipped gun case in the console. I have only been stopped a few times by the IL state police, in each case I was ticketed, no discussion.