# Concealed Handgun in a Car in Illinois **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037 "2003-08-22T22:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homer\_J.Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a698b9/32.png) [@Homer\_J.Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J.Simpson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037/1 "2003-08-22T22:54:25Z")
Can a person keep a concealed handgun in their car in Illinois if the car is their residence? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037/2 "2003-08-22T23:36:33Z")
I’m not an Illinoisan, but I can give you a partial answer. In Chicago, handgun possession is illegal even in one’s own home. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037/3 "2003-08-23T00:18:52Z")
Illinois has a [url=http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ch430/ch430act65.htm]Firearm Owners Identification Card that says you can own and have one, if you have that card. But they also say you cannot conceal it in your car. As for your specific case in the OP, I’d say you’d need a defense attorney to parse the language of the law, defining “abode” as opposed to “vehicle”. ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037/4 "2003-08-23T00:21:46Z")
Well, that’s not even a partial answer since I believe it’s incorrect unless you can provide a more current cite than mine. It is legal to keep a handgun in your vehicle if it’s on your property according to [http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ch720/ch720act5articles/ch720act5sub40.htm](http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ch720/ch720act5articles/ch720act5sub40.htm). However, if I am reading this correctly, the firearm must be broken down or not easily accessible or unloaded and locked in a carrying box. Illinois requires firearm owners to have a valid permit to own or possess firearms also. According to [http://www.impactsites2000.com/site3/illaw.htm](http://www.impactsites2000.com/site3/illaw.htm) Chicago does allow you to own firearms but has the requirement that the firearm be registered with the Director of Revenue. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037/5 "2003-08-23T01:37:54Z")
If you were referring to my answer as incorrect, the term “conceal” means hide from public view yet easily accessible. It does not mean locked in the trunk. I believe this cite is current, it was the same as your link, but paraphrased, using the nearly universally understood term “conceal”. > [@](#): > > (720 ILCS 5/24-1.6) > Sec. 24-1.6. Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. > (a) A person commits the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when he or she knowingly: > (1) Carries on or about his or her person or in any vehicle or concealed on or about his or her person except when on his or her land or in his or her abode or fixed place of business any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm; and I stand behind my position that the conditions set forth in the OP (I presumed the car was not on his land, I may be wrong) are not within the clear definitions of the law, as I understand it, and I would surmise he could be arrested and would need a defense lawyer to point out the seemingly conflicting language of the law. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Harrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@John\_Harrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Harrison)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-handgun-in-a-car-in-illinois/197037/6 "2003-08-23T01:40:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by breaknrun \* > \*\*According to [http://www.impactsites2000.com/site3/illaw.htm](http://www.impactsites2000.com/site3/illaw.htm) Chicago does allow you to own firearms but has the requirement that the firearm be registered with the Director of Revenue. \*\* Actually AskNott was correct in that Chicago stopped registering handguns in 1982. Since you can’t own a firearm in Chicago that is not registered, handgun ownership is effectively banned unless you owned and registered the handgun before 1982 (and continously renewed it).