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posted on 6/30/18

If you have a concealed weapon license, it is 100% legal to have a gun in your home. In fact, it is a little easier to obtain such a license in the Prairie State than it is in some jurisdictions. In Illinois, the decision-maker can only reject your application for certain objective reasons. In other places, the decision-maker can block your application with just a vague “I have a bad feeling about this” objection.

Carrying a concealed weapon in public is still rather dicey in Illinois, despite the CCW law. This statute includes a long list of prohibited places. We looked at a few in a previous post. Below, we examine a few more of these prohibited places.

As a side note, any place can be a prohibited place if the owner displays a “no-guns” sticker in the window. The sticker does have to be of size, design and shape set out by law and does need to be conspicuous. It needs to be displayed somewhere visible, so look for it.

Jail

Usually, even Illinois peace officers cannot wear their guns in a jail area. So, it stands to reason that these places are off-limits for concealed weapons, as well. If you plan on visiting someone in jail, it is usually best to leave your gun at home. Leaving it in the car could still get you in trouble.

Public Transportation

This prohibition is quite broad, as well. Transit buses, trains, vans, and any other vehicles are definitely off-limits if they are operating during normal business hours. The prohibition also applies to any Illinois mass transit vehicles, such as Greyhound buses or tour buses, that receive any government money. Rule of thumb: If you are not in a private vehicle, leave your gun at home or in your car.

Public Park

This exception is actually one of the narrower ones. There is some kind of “public park” on practically every block in Chicago. It could be a tiny patch of green or a sculpture.

Public Facility

Broadly speaking, Section 65 prohibits weapons in practically any “public” place with the exception of the sidewalk, street, or non-stickered private businesses. In addition to the other places we have discussed, that list includes:

  • Museums,
  • Airports, and
  • Libraries.

One tricky bit, especially with regard to libraries, is that some of these places are not standalone facilities. They are spaces in office buildings or strip malls. The law is a bit unclear as to what parts of these areas are prohibited and what parts are okay.

Reach Out to Assertive Attorneys

Your CCW license is not an unlimited license to carry a concealed weapon. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Schaumburg, contact Glasgow & Olsson.

(image courtesy of Sawyer Bengston)