Last updated on October 17th, 2024
My Illinois Concealed Carry License is Expired. Can I Still Carry?
A common question we are hearing a lot of lately. Many of our students are waiting well over 100 days, some even over 120 days, to receive their renewed concealed carry licenses. Some might even have expired licenses. So, can you carry with an expired concealed carry license?
When the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act first passed it included protection for both the licensee as well as the state. The Illinois State Police Firearm Services Bureau is notoriously understaffed. If you might recall, at the time of Sandy Hook Firearm Owner Identification cards (FOID) renewals were approaching 6 months in some cases. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of people stuck in a limbo with expired cards but had filed their paperwork in ample time.
Fast forward a few years, the sponsors of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act were smart enough to recognize the problem and include this language in the bill…
(430 ILCS 66/70)
Sec. 70. Violations.
(c) A license is invalid upon expiration of the license, unless the licensee has submitted an application to renew the license, and the applicant is otherwise eligible to possess a license under this Act.
Layman’s interpretation?
If you have forgotten to apply for renewal of your concealed carry license, your license in invalid. However, if you have applied for renewal, and your license is expired while you wait, your license should still be valid.
Please note I mention “should” because not all police offers may understand this as part of the law. It is alleged that police can see the status in their computer systems. However different departments use different versions of the LEADS database. Don’t leave it to chance. Alpha Koncepts is recommending the following practice to students…
- Apply 120 days before renewal allowing ample time for renewal to be processed so you don’t need to worry about becoming expired.
- If your license is expired, but you have applied for renewal before it expired, print the page from the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act referenced above so that you may show a police officer if necessary that you are complying with the law. The act may be referenced here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3497&ChapterID=39
- Also carry a print out of the receipt you received when paying for your renewal, as proof you had renewed.
Please note the above suggestions are not required by law but are simply a means to possibly prevent any hassles that may come your way.
Can you carry with an expired Illinois Concealed Carry License?
Yes, If you applied for renewal before it expired.
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It has been almost 6 months since we applied for our concealed carry license it had expired. When can we expect to receive our concealed carry license this year. Also can we conceal carry in IL with us applying for our renewal have they done an extension.
Sincerely,
Pat S.
My license to carry expired on the 11th of June I did my 3 hours class on the 10th of June but paid for renewal on the 14th of June am I legal to still carry
Log into your ISP web portal and look at the status. If the status still shows expired, you cannot carry. If it shows active, you can carry. If it shows anything except active, I recommend not carrying.