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posted on 9/17/17

There are significant restrictions to the Illinois carrying a concealed weapon law. For example, the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board may deny licensure to any applicant if the Board determines that a law enforcement agency has “a reasonable suspicion that the applicant is a danger to himself or herself or others, or a threat to public safety.”

Section 65 contains many restrictions, as well, because this is the provision that forbids even legally licensed gun owners from possessing a weapon in one of 23 prohibited places. In addition to these specific prohibitions, any private owner may ban concealed weapons at that establishment simply by posting a sign to that effect.

Elementary/Secondary School

In a general sense, anyplace where educational services are delivered is a “school,” and that place could be a room with a computer. But (a)(1) is limited to real property belonging to a public or private school.

Nevertheless, the definition is still quite broad because there is no provision for the presence or absence of students. So, an abandoned school that is slated for closure and void of students, yet still legally in the hands of the school district, is a “school.” Similarly, an administration or other building is also a “school.”

These defenses, and others like them, may be admissible as equitable arguments, at least when it comes to sentencing matters.

Child Care Facility

Not all child care facilities are located in public buildings and are clearly labeled as such. In fact, many are located in private homes and contain no signage whatsoever.

At any facility, the “operator” may possess a concealed weapon if there are no children on the premises or if the firearm is secured in a locked box on site. At least on its face, this exception does not apply to employees or parents of children at the facility.

Public Transportation

It is a crime to carry a concealed weapon onto any conveyance “paid for in whole or in part with public funds.”

So, in addition to public transportation buses and trains, this provision also applies to government-owned fleet vehicles and party buses whose owners received any tax break or government subsidy. By definition, the prohibition also applies to any real estate related to public transportation, such as a bus stop.

Alcohol Vendor

Section (a)(9) is a complicated provision which bans carrying a concealed weapon into any establishment that obtained more than 50% of its revenue from alcohol sales in the three months preceding the arrest.

Airport, Amusement Park, Zoo, Museum, or Public Library

Sections (a)(18) through (a)(21) all contain the same verbiage which prohibits weapons carrying in any “building, real property, or parking area” under the control of any of these entities.

This rule is different from some of the other ones in different jurisdictions. For example, some airports allow people to carry concealed weapons in certain areas. But the Illinois law is a blanket prohibition, so any possession in any part of the facility, even the most remote parking space on the lot, is against the law.

Rely on Experienced Lawyers

The Illinois CCW law contains almost as many prohibited places as permitted places. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal law attorney in Schaumburg, contact Glasgow & Olsson.

(image courtesy of Alex Jones)