Continue reading Can you transport your firearm through gun free zones?
When you apply for your Illinois Concealed Carry License, there is a 30 day limbo period. This Limbo period is for concealed carry objections by law enforcement after review your application and check your arrest record. If law enforcement does not object, you proceed along to the regular and formal back ground check. However there is some criteria where concealed carry objections by law enforcement may occur. All hope is not lost if you do experience an objection to your Illinois Concealed Carry application. Continue reading Concealed Carry Objections by Law Enforcement
When transporting or carrying a concealed firearm, one must always know the laws of the state in which they are traveling to and through. Laws regarding firearms ownership, use, and sales vary from state to state.
It is important to also be aware that the firearm laws change from time to time. To browse helpful information on regulations and laws in your state, please select from the links below: Continue reading United States Firearm Laws, by State
Choosing a firearm based on price is probably a good way to waste some money. The best gun for concealed carry is the one that fits you. There are no one size fits all firearms so if a Glock fits you it may not fit your friend. Obviously budget is important and the gun you have is better than the top tier firearm in the case at the gun store because you cannot afford it, but whenever possible budget should be set aside when selecting a firearm because there are so many more important criteria. Continue reading What is the best gun for concealed carry?
Some States Honor the IL Concealed Carry License allowing you to carry a concealed license within those states. While there is no true reciprocity, because Illinois doesn’t honor any other state carry conceal permits, as of the time of this posting there are 25 states (plus Illinois) which will honor the IL Carry Conceal License. <!–more–>
In addition carrying a concealed firearm is also permissible in Wyoming and Maine, with some notable restrictions.
To the reader, you should understand that laws can and do change. While the author will do his best to update the list of states honoring the IL Concealed Carry License, you should also perform your due diligence and if you intend to travel contact the state(s) that you intend to visit.
Adding the redundancy of an Arizona or Florida Carry Concealed permit will allow you to legally carry a concealed firearm in a broader number of states. Alpha Koncepts Concealed Carry Training class qualifies you for the Illinois, Florida and Arizona Concealed Carry Licenses. Three state concealed classes bundled into one.
You may apply for Illinois Carry Concealed training by contacting Alpha Koncepts Also be sure to inquire about Florida & Arizona Concealed Carry training at no extra charge.
Please be aware that these above states honoring the Illinois Concealed Carry License may change from time to time therefore it is always of the utmost importance to verify the states which honor the Illinois Concelaed Carry License before traveling. Information gathered to maintain this page is gathered from the following sources:
There is some confusion surrounding how many firearms you may legally conceal in Illinois. In the Illinois Firearm Concealed carry Licensing Compiled statute, 168 page law, nowhere in the law is it stated a limit to the quantity of firearms that may be carried concealed. So, How many concealed guns can you carry?
Well, the confusion arises by the language of the law,
(c) … A license shall permit the licensee to:
(1) carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm, fully concealed or partially concealed, on or about his or her person; and
(2) keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle.
However if we consider legislative intent, it was not the intent of the sponsor, Richard Phelps, to limit the licensee to only one firearm. How do we know this? We know the intent of the law based on committee meetings and legislative floor debates where anti gun legislators were complaining, and infact voted against the law, based on the fact that licensees were not limited to only one firearm. It is important to note, however, that we do not have case law. This means that nobody has yet been arrested for carrying multiple firearms. Because nobody has been arrested, no judge nor jury has had to determine if it is legal to carry multiple firearms.
While in other states it may be true that you may only carry one concealed gun, in Illinois my opinion is there is no limit. Infact for those who chose to follow the debates that lead up to the passage of House Bill 183 in 2013, one Illinois politician in particular was upset about this topic and his ranting was rather humorous. Several states other than Illinois also allow a person to conceal multiple firearms.
It is suggested that all concealed carry license applicants take the time to read the Firearm Concealed Carry Licensing Act (FCCL) compiled statute for Illinois or ask a lawyer familiar with the Act . I am not a lawyer, simply a licensed and certified Concealed Carry Instructor who has made the rights of gun owners in Illinois his passion, but if I were a lawyer I would say…
You may carry more than one concealed firearm in Illinois!
In fact this author plans to carry one back up gun (BUG). So next time someone tells you that you may only carry one concealed firearm at a time, ask them to prove it. Here is the law: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3497&ChapterID=39
This is not legal advice. Please consult your attorney.
A fairly common question, and one that has received alot of disinformation from various sources, is the question “Are finger prints required for an Illinois concealed carry license?”
The short and simple answer is probably not. That’s kind of vague though. In most cases finger prints are not required, however the Illinois FCCL Licensing Review Board may request finger prints on a case by case basis. This request likely would only happen if you have a very common name. Students who CHOOSE to submit finger prints with their application may receive their License approvals up to 30 days quicker than those who choose to submit their license application without finger prints.
Even though finger prints are optional, some instructors are insisting their students must get finger printed. While there is nothing wrong with getting finger printed before applying for your Illinois Concealed Carry license, it simply is not true that it is a requirement for every applicant. Infact the added fees for the live scan finger printing service only serves to drive up the price to exercise a freedom, the right to bear arms.
So why are some unscrupulous persons insisting that applicants must be finger printed? I can’t answer for all, but it’s probably about money. Some instructors have gotten setup with the very costly Live Scan finger print scanners, and are now trying to recoup that investment. Other live scan finger print vendors whom have been setup scanning for other purposes are offering instructors kick backs.
But don’t take my word for it. The Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Licensing Act (FCCL) states the following in regards to finger prints:
The Board shall issue a decision within 30 days of receipt of the objection from the Department. However, the Board need not issue a decision within 30 days if:
(1) the Board requests information from the applicant, including but not limited to electronic fingerprints to be submitted to the Department, in accordance with subsection (e) of this Section, in which case the Board shall make a decision within 30 days of receipt of the required information from the applicant;(8) a full set of fingerprints submitted to the Department in electronic format, provided the Department may accept an application submitted without a set of in which case the Department shall be granted 30 days in addition to the 90 days provided under subsection (e) of Section 10 of this Act to issue or deny a license;
Sec. 50. License renewal. Applications for renewal of a license shall be made to the Department. A license shall be renewed for a period of 5 years upon receipt of a completed renewal application, completion of 3 hours of training required under Section 75 of this Act, payment of the applicable renewal fee, and completion of an investigation under Section 35 of this Act. The renewal application shall contain the information required in Section 30 of this Act, except that the applicant need not resubmit a full set of fingerprints.
In considering an objection of a law enforcement agency or the Department, the Board shall review the materials received with the objection from the law enforcement agency or the Department. By a vote of at least 4 commissioners, the Board may request additional information from the law enforcement agency, Department, or the applicant, or the testimony of the law enforcement agency, Department, or the applicant. The Board may require that the applicant submit electronic fingerprints to the Department for an updated background check where the Board determines it lacks sufficient information to determine eligibility. The Board may only consider information submitted by the Department, a law enforcement agency, or the applicant. The Board shall review each objection and determine by a majority of commissioners whether an applicant is eligible for a license.
(1) the Board requests information from the applicant, including but not limited to electronic fingerprints, to be submitted to the Department, in accordance with subsection (e) of this Section, in which case the Board shall make a decision within 30 days of receipt of the required information from the applicant;
Read the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Licensing Act here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3497&ChapterID=39
Now that you have the facts, if you are considering an instructor who is telling you that fingerprints are mandatory one of two things is happening; Either the instructor has not read the law, or the instructor is intentionally misleading you. Ask yourself, “Either way is this the right instructor for me?”
Update September 8th, 2016
It has come to my attention that some finger print vendors are claiming that it may take 150 days for the Illinois State Police to process your Illinois Concealed Carry License Application if submitted without prints. I have heard this vendor state twice that the ISP is sending out extension letters for applications without prints.
THIS IS NOT TRUE. It is a scare tactic to trick you into getting finger prints. Currently applications without fingerprints are taking about 110 days on average while applications with finger prints are taking about 45 days, based on conversations with my students and other licensees. Yes your application will be processed quicker if you get finger prints done, but I can not stand lies and scare tactics!
The following is a correspondence from the Illinois State Police on this subject…
ISP FSB has not sent any extension letters out. Only the CCLRB has requested additional time and it does not matter if prints are submitted or not. If you apply without fingerprints it is processed in 120 days.
Respectfully,
Illinois State Police
Firearms Services Bureau
Concealed Carry Unit
