Last updated on July 31st, 2025

Your Guide to Storing a Firearm in Illinois

If you need to store a gun in Illinois, this article will explain exactly how that may be lawfully done. Whether it’s storing your firearm at home, in your vehicle, or anywhere else, I’ll explain the steps you need to take to reduce the chances of criminal charges. I’ll explain exactly how to store a firearm in Illinois.

Illinois has specific firearm storage laws, and these laws were just changed by Gov. Pritzker and will go into effect January 1st, 2026. I remind you that anyone can be arrested for anything and is then guilty until they prove their innocence in a court of law. Also, I am not a judge so my opinion doesn’t matter for much; therefore, nothing I say should ever be considered legal advice.

What Illinois Law Says about Storage of Firearms

Public Act 104-0031 AKA the ‘Safe Gun Storage Act’ adds provisions to how one must store a firearm and the penalties for not storing properly. It actually adds more restrictions or tightens the noose, compared to what was previously on the books.

Section 5. Storage of firearms. A firearm owner shall not
store or keep any firearm in any premises where the firearm
owner knows or reasonably should know a minor without the
lawful permission of the minor’s parent, guardian, or person
having charge of the minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited
person is likely to gain access to the firearm unless the
firearm is secured in a locked container, properly engaged so
as to render the firearm inaccessible or unusable to any
person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user.
If the firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner
or other lawfully authorized user, then the firearm is deemed
lawfully stored or kept. This Section does not apply (i) if the
minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person gains access
to a firearm and uses it in a lawful act of self-defense or
defense of another or (ii) to any firearm obtained by a minor,
an at-risk person, or a prohibited person because of an
unlawful entry of the premises by the minor, at-risk person,
prohibited person or another person.

   

Layman’s translation

Your gun must either be on your person, locked up, or somehow rendered inaccessible. Rendering the firearm inaccessible or unusable is ‘gray area’ which gives your lawyer wiggle room to argue, but also gives the prosecutor wiggle room to argue. In my free advice, which is worth exactly what you paid for it, using a trigger lock or similar type of gun lock likely could be considered to render the firearm unusable. Taking the firearm apart would also render the firearm unusable, but to what degree must the firearm be disassembled? Your guess is as good as mine.

It’s important to note, this doesn’t just apply to home storage of firearms. It applies to anywhere within Illinois limits. This would include storing the gun in your car, or at work, or storing the gun anywhere. If anyone has access to your firearm you could be held criminally responsible.

The law stops short of saying all guns must be locked up.

Some Definitions

Words have meanings, especially when it comes to law. It’s important that we define some of the legal terms pasted above. The Illinois Safe Gun Store Act provides us with the following definitions:

(a) In this Act:
“At-risk person” means a person who has made statements or
exhibited behavior that indicates to a reasonable person there
is a likelihood that the person is at risk of attempting
suicide or causing physical harm to oneself or others.
“Minor” means a person under 18 years of age; however,
“minor” does not include a member of the United States Armed
Forces or the Illinois National Guard.
“Premises” includes any land, building, structure,
vehicle, or place directly or indirectly under the control of
the firearm owner.
“Prohibited person” means a person ineligible under
federal or State law to possess a firearm. “Prohibited person”
does not include a person who is otherwise eligible to own a
firearm pursuant to the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act
but does not, at the time of the violation, have a Firearm
Owner’s Identification Card.

Layman’s translation

At risk person means someone who a jury would believe to be a danger to themselves or others. If someone takes your gun and harms themselves or someone else you will be responsible.

A minor is anyone under the age of 18 unless they are a member of the Armed Forces. If a minor takes your gun and harms themselves or someone else with it, you will be responsible.

As I said before this doesn’t just apply to your home home but “premises” quite literally means anywhere and everywhere within the state of Illinois. If someone gets ahold of your gun you will be responsible.

A prohibited person is someone who is ineligible for an Illinois FOID card. This includes felons, addicts, mental defects, current orders of protection, current arrest warrants, people accused of domestic violence, illegal aliens, etc… However our overlords threw us a bone by saying that if the person is otherwise eligible for a FOID card but never bothered to get a FOID card then they aren’t technically prohibited.

I have a question. How does one truly know if they are eligible for a FOID card unless they’ve applied for and received a FOID card? Perhaps it’s a good idea to get those around you FOID cards. I barfed in my mouth slightly even suggesting that. But the $10 FOID fee is cheap insurance. You do you.

I have another question. What if you lawfully authorize your minor child to access your firearm, and that minor child subsequently does something stupid with your firearm? The law does say, “minor WITHOUT the lawful permission of the minor’s parent”. I capitalized the ‘without’ for emphasis. Wouldn’t that be an exemption? Well, that’s certainly an argument your lawyer can make.

Penalties for leaving your gun accessible to children and prohibited persons…

The penalties are quite stiff if someone gains access to your gun.

(b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (2) and
(3) of this subsection (b), a violation of Section 5 is subject
to a civil penalty not to exceed $500.
(2) If any person knows or reasonably should know that a
minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to
gain access to a firearm belonging to or under the control of
that person, and a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited
person obtains the firearm, the civil penalty shall not exceed
$1,000.
(3) If a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person
obtains a firearm and uses it to injure or cause the death of a
person or uses the firearm in connection with a crime, the
civil penalty shall not exceed $10,000.
(c) The court may order a person who is found in violation
of Section 5 to perform community service or pay restitution
in lieu of the civil penalties imposed under this Section if
good cause is shown.
(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preclude
civil liabilities for violations of this Act.

Layman’s translation

If someone has access to your firearm, who the government says shouldn’t have access to your firearm, then you may owe up to $1,000 to the government even if they didn’t use the firearm. In other words, if the king’s men say your gun should have been locked up, and it wasn’t locked up, you’re paying $1,000.

If someone has access to your firearm and harms themselves or someone else with your firearm you can face fines of up to $10,000.

However, instead of paying money you might get ‘lucky’ and only have to do forced labor, I mean ‘community service’, instead. Also let us not forget that someone may be sued by anyone for any reason at any time and this new law specifically states that you can (will) be sued by the victims, or their families, if someone uses your gun.

Also don’t forget the lawyer fees. I expect fees to start at around $3,500 and go up from there if someone actually got hurt.

Exemptions

There are some exemptions. It doesn’t always mean you will always be responsible. This doesn’t mean you can’t be charged with a crime, and this doesn’t mean you won’t be sued civilly. It does mean your lawyer can prove your innocence through one of the exemptions.

We saw that if the firearm is used in a lawful act of self defense, you should be exempt. The Safe Gun Storage Act also states that you shouldn’t be responsible if the firearm was gained through unlawful entry. But, you have to report it stolen (more on that in a moment.)

The ‘authorized user” is a fuzzy exemption that gives wiggle room for your lawyer to argue.

It’s also worth noting again that some of these provisions do not go into effect until January 1st 2026.

Other Changes and Amendments for Firearm Storage in Illinois

Section 90. The Firearm Owners Identification Card Act is
amended by changing Sections 3, 3.1, 8, and 8.1 and by adding
Section 7.10 as follows:
(430 ILCS 65/8) (from Ch. 38, par. 83-8)
Sec. 8. Grounds for denial and revocation. The Illinois
State Police has authority to deny an application for or to
revoke and seize a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card
previously issued under this Act only if the Illinois State
Police finds that the applicant or the person to whom such card
was issued is or was at the time of issuance:
(v) A person who fails 2 or more times to report a loss
or theft of a firearm within 48 hours of the discovery of
such loss or theft to local law enforcement as required
under subsection (a) of Section 24-4.1 of the Criminal
Code of 2012.

Section 105. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
changing Sections 24-3B, 24-4.1, and 24-9 as follows:
(720 ILCS 5/24-3B)
Sec. 24-3B. Firearms trafficking.
(a) A person commits firearms trafficking when he or she
has not been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner’s
Identification Card and knowingly:

(3) brings, or causes to be brought, into this State,
in a vehicle on an expressway in this State, more than one
firearm prohibited from possession by Section 24-1.9, per
occupants of the vehicle.

(720 ILCS 5/24-4.1)
Sec. 24-4.1. Report of lost or stolen firearms.
(a) If a person who possesses a valid Firearm Owner’s
Identification Card and who possesses or acquires a firearm
thereafter loses the firearm, or if the firearm is stolen from
the person, the person must report the loss or theft of any
such firearm to the local law enforcement agency within 48
hours after obtaining knowledge of the loss or theft. The
report shall include:
(1) the date the firearm was lost or stolen;
(2) the exact location where the firearm was lost or
stolen or, if the exact location is not known, the last
known location of the firearm;
(3) the caliber, make, model, and serial number of the
firearm;
(4) a description of the circumstances under which the
firearm was lost or stolen; and
(5) the Firearm Owner’s Identification Card number of
the person making the report, if applicable.

Sec. 24-9. Firearms; Child Protection.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c), it is unlawful
for any person to store or leave, within premises under his or
her control, a firearm if the person knows or has reason to
believe that a minor under the age of 18 years who does not
have a Firearm Owners Identification Card is likely to gain
access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the
minor’s parent, guardian, or person having charge of the
minor, and the minor causes death or great bodily harm with the
firearm, unless the firearm is:
(1) secured by a device or mechanism, other than the
firearm safety, designed to render a firearm temporarily
inoperable; or
(2) placed in a securely locked box or container.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2026.

Layman’s Translation

The Safe Gun Storage Act adds an additional trigger for FOID revocations. If you fail to report two or more incidents of having your guns stolen, then your FOID shall be revoked.

If you don’t have a FOID (does this also apply to non-residents?) and bring in more than one banned firearm then you’re also guilty of firearm trafficking.

Since around 2014 it has been a requirement that one must report their firearm lost or stolen. However the timeframe was previously 72 hours and has now been lowered to within 48 hours. The noose tightens. Also, the state has now standardized the information that must be collected on that report, which was not previously required.

Sec. 24-9. Firearms; Child Protection previously stated that you would be responsible if a child under the age of 14 gained access to your firearm, this was raised to 18. It also removed the “reasonable person” exemption: “(3) placed in some other location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure from a minor under the age of 14 years.” now stating the gun must be locked away from minors without a FOID or you can be held responsible.

Everything we’ve discussed, except certain parts omitted which affect gun dealers, the courts, and the state police, go into effect January 1st 2026.

There are additional changes to the laws which apply to licensed gun dealers which aren’t directly applicable to the average gun owner therefore have been omitted from this article.

Summary of How To Store a Firearm in Illinois (TLDR)

If almost anyone (minor, prohibited person, at-risk person) gains access to your firearm anywhere in Illinois then you’ll be held responsible, unless the firearm is used in an act of self defense or it was stolen, and you reported it stolen within 48-hours. Don’t forget, you’ll also probably be sued.

If you have people in your car, it’s best to keep the firearm on your person or lock it up. If you have visitors coming to your home, it’s best to have the firearm on your person or lock it up. If you leave a firearm at your place of business, it’s best to keep it on your person and encourage your co-workers to get a concealed carry license and do the same.

FAQ of How To Store a Firearm in Illinois

There’ve always been a ton of questions about firearm storage in Illinois. Below are some of the more common questions I’ve received, and I’ll update this FAQ as more questions arise.

Final reminder, nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. It’s only my layman interpretation of the law. Read the law for yourself here: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/Legislation/PublicActs/104/PDF/104-0031.pdf