Can I have a handgun in my Illinois hotel room

[justaguy]

Its not worth the trouble.

[usnret]

You can stay in an IL jailhouse for possession of a handgun in Cook County.

Just pay attention to the laws.... Be careful...

I believe it's "Crook" county!

[1911fan]

If you stay out of Cook County your probably ok, if you have to go to Cook County and not into Chicago proper, bring a revolver, as certain mags are illegal, or meet the level of an assault weapon under the law, (if someone somewhere makes a high cap mag for the gun, you are SOL, in my understanding).

here is the word from the NRA<ILA website.

ILLINOIS— Possession of a firearm or ammunition generally requires an Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID). This requirement does not apply, however, to nonresidents whose firearms are unloaded or enclosed in a case. The possession of a firearm in a vehicle is also generally prohibited, but this restriction does not apply to firearms that are “broken down in a non-functioning state” or that are not immediately accessible.

Illinois allows localities to enact firearms restrictions greater than those imposed by state law. The city of Chicago requires all firearms possessed in the city to be registered. Handguns not previously registered in Chicago cannot be registered. Oak Park bans the possession of handguns within its borders. Evanston bans the possession of handguns within its borders, “except when said handgun is kept at the residence of said person for self-protection, provided that said person possesses a current and valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card issued by the State of Illinois.” As of May 2010, the constitutionality of several of these laws was being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cook County, Chicago, and a number of Chicago suburbs, including Aurora and Oak Park, also ban so-called “assault weapons” or certain ammunition feeding devices. The details of these bans vary, so travelers planning to transport semi-automatic firearms, or magazines with capacities that exceed eight rounds, should carefully check local requirements.

Outstate, there was recently a statement by the ISP after a court case, where by out of state people were finally assured that possession of a firearm without an FOID was NOT criminal provided no other laws regarding the firearm were broken. This was after some non resident was arrested for a gun in the car and was charged and got it taken away for not having an FOID.

Top Stories
content separation dashed line

channel 3 iconSite Last updated 3:17 pm CT July 21, 2011.
content separation dashed line

E-mail Story Print Story
content separation dashed line
FOID Card Not Required For Visitors
Posted: Friday, April 8th

Play Video
SPARTA -- Out-of-state firearm owners no longer need to worry about breaking the law when they come to Illinois. In a unanimous decision the state supreme court has ruled that only Illinois residents need a FOID card to legally carry a gun in this state.

The decision stems from a case in Chicago. During a routine traffic stop in 2005 police found a loaded gun in Leonard Holmes Jr's car. Authorities tacked on another charge of unlawful use of a weapon because he didn't have a FOID card. Here's the problem, he's not eligible to have a FOID card because he lives in Indiana.

link http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.ph ... 5&type=top

This is big, its the first step in dismantling the Cook County monopoly on gun rights in the state. It also opened the door that the Ill State Supreme Court would hear cases that not only questioned the motives of the States Atty for Cook County, but also entertained the idea that the State equivalent of RICO laws could be invoked AGAINST Cook County.

Here is the linky to the Court Opinion, http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cac ... eoSg&pli=1

[mnmike59]

I just came back from there on a Bike trip. I had my G26 with me every night. While transporting I had it unloaded and locked in a gun vault in my saddle bag.
I figured. Better alive and doing time or paying a fine Than dead if a situation came up.

[grousemaster]

Its not worth the trouble.

I agree. I will be in Chicago this week for business and then Nevada next weekend. I will be unarmed for both trips. Sucks, but like you said...not worth the trouble

[MissouriDave]

Last time I was in Illinois, I couldn't even buy handgun ammo without stating the game I was taking with it and the games' season had to be open in Illinois for me to make the purchase. I gave the Gander Mountain folks a second amendment lecture and suggested they contact their representatives. They didn't seen to concerned. That was in Peoria IL. Illinois is like another world. Foidistan is a place I try to avoidistan.

Be careful, talk to locals about your concerns. Call a different hotel other than the one you are staying at and get their opinion.

[Cptcoco]

How much justice can you afford my friend? That's what you have to ask yourself.