Illinois residents have been waiting for years to legally carry concealed weapons. On July 9th 2013 Illinois passed public act 98-63 which became law 430 ILCS 66. This law allows Illinois citizens to carry concealed handguns. The requirements to get a CCL in Illinois are a little more stringent than many other states. Read on to learn how to qualify for a license and where to find CCL instructors near you.
Shall Issue
Illinois is a “shall issue” state meaning that once you meet all the requirements to obtain a concealed carry license and no objections are filed by law enforcement, the Illinois State Police will issue a license to you. This is in contrast to “may issue” states in which applicants must have a “good cause” to obtain a license. Read more about “shall issue” versus “may issue” here.
Concealed Carry Illinois Classes Near You
What Will You Learn in Class?
Your instructor will probably start with gun safety. You will learn how to properly clean and handle your weapon, including which chemicals to buy. This may seem a little basic, but you will be taught the difference between a revolver and a semi-automatic.
At some point the instructor will move into portions of Illinois law that pertain to carrying a concealed handgun. Even if law is boring to you listen carefully to this section, it might keep you from spending time in jail. You need to understand the difference between self defense and murder in the eyes of Illinois law. When traveling to other states you need to understand their laws. Some states require a person to attempt a retreat before firing a shot.
You are probably looking forward to the hands on weapon instruction and range time. You will be taught how to stand and hold the weapon. Short barreled weapons are difficult to aim but your instructor should teach you some best practices. During the live fire portion of the course you will be shooting at a B27 target. You must hit the scoring portion of the target 70% of the time to qualify.
Requirements to Qualify for a License
Illinois Residents
- I am at least 21 years old.
- I have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
- I have not been convicted or found guilty of a misdemeanor involving the threat of physical force or violence to any person within the past 5 years.
- I do not have 2 or more violations related to driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, intoxicating compounds within the past 5 years.
- I am not subject to a pending arrest warrant, prosecution or proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification to own or possess a firearm.
- I have not been in a residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification, or drug treatment within the past 5 years.
- You may be eligible if you satisfy the above and no objections are filed by law enforcement.
Non-Residents (Currently applies to residents of Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas & Virginia only)
- I am at least 21 years old.
- I have not been convicted of any Felony.
- I have not been adjudicated as a mental defective by a court of law.
- I have not been involuntarily committed to a facility for the purpose of mental health treatment.
- I have not been admitted as a voluntary patient in a facility for the purpose of mental health treatment within the past 5 years.
- I have not been addicted to narcotics.
- I am not intellectually disabled or developmentally disabled.
- I am not subject to any active Order of Protection.
- I have not within the past 5 years been convicted of battery, assault, aggravated assault, violation of an order of protection, or a substantially similar offense in which a firearm was used or possessed.
- I have not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic battery or substantially similar offense.
- I have not been adjudicated a delinquent minor for the commission of an offense that if committed by an adult would be a felony.
- I have not been convicted or found guilty of a misdemeanor involving the threat of physical force or violence to any person within the past 5 years.
- I do not have 2 or more violations related to driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, intoxicating compounds within the past 5 years.
- I am not subject to a pending arrest warrant, prosecution or proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification to own or possess a firearm.
- I have not been in a residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification, or drug treatment within the past 5 years.
- You may be eligible if you satisfy the above and no objections are filed by law enforcement.
Illinois CCL Checklists
You will apply for your license at the Illinois State Police website. Before applying there are several things you need to have in order. Click the links below to print out an Illinois concealed carry license checklist.
Featured Instructors
Here is a short list of some great instructors in Illinois.
Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?
I'm telling you it's so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.
"Okay, so far I've dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!
Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who'da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones - Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela's, et. al. - will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner - I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this "shortage") - and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.
Yes, I'm telling my friends! I'm constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, "No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won't be sorry!" Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service."
-- Walter J., Silverdale, WA --
Jason Huskey
Owner of CCWClasses.net
Jason Huskey is a family man with three kids and a wonderful wife. He’s always starting new hobbies, but his true passion lies in shooting sports. Jason has been a CCW license holder for over 10 years and carries every day. In addition to firearms, he also enjoys playing guitar and writing songs. He tries to live by the Christian values he believes in.
More things you might enjoy…
Can a 38 Special Shoot 357 Rounds?
I’ve long since discovered that very few activities give me the same thrill and sense of security as firing a gun. As a gun owner and enthusiast, I’ve always been curious about which guns can shoot which kinds of ammunition. I have a Derringer five-shot revolver that uses .22 rounds. I also have a Remington…
Who Makes the Most Popular Brands of Ammo
If you are here to figure out who makes Herter’s ammo just look below the following table for a more thorough answer. If you are looking for a specific type of ammo, then you need to start by figuring out who makes it. There are lots of options for ammunition and each type of bullet…
What Does Full Metal Jacket Mean?
If you have heard the term full metal jacket, then you might be wondering what this means. I know that growing up, I heard this term a lot. I dismissed it as some sort of saying or cliche. Eventually, I decided that I needed to figure out what people meant when they use this term.…
How Often Should You Clean Your Gun?
After purchasing a firearm, you might wonder how often you should clean your gun. The truth is that it largely depends on how often you use it and where you live. Keep reading to learn more. How Often Should You Clean Your Gun? The short answer: do a light cleaning after every shooting session and…
What Is The Main Difference Between Centerfire And Rimfire Ammunition?
Rimfire vs Centerfire Everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re new to guns, learning the difference between rimfire and centerfire ammunition is important. Let me backtrack a moment. The first time I went out on the gun range, I had zero idea that there were different types of ammo for different types of weapons. All I knew…
Continue Reading What Is The Main Difference Between Centerfire And Rimfire Ammunition?
How Should You Hold a Handgun for Maximum Accuracy?
Whether it’s for sport or you find yourself in a defensive situation where you need to use a handgun, how you hold it will significantly affect your accuracy. Developing your handgun techniques will help you become a better shot and keep you safe. Read on to learn the answer to the question: How should you…
Continue Reading How Should You Hold a Handgun for Maximum Accuracy?
What Is Stippling On A Gun?
Hey, would you like a more firm grip on your gun? Would that help you shoot better? Well that is what stippling is for. Stippling is a modification to the grip that makes it, well, more grippy. It is done by sanding off the original finish and then using a hot soldering iron to make…
What Is A Centerfire Pistol?
To answer the question: “What Is A Centerfire Pistol?”, you must first understand that there are two main types of ammunition: Centerfire Rimfire These ammo categorizations are based on where the firing pin hits the back of the bullet to make it fire. A centerfire pistol is one where the firing pin strikes the center…
Is It Bad To Dry Fire A Glock?
There are loads of myths and assumptions surrounding handguns. If you grew up around guns, you probably heard some of these myths. Today, we will answer the question: Is it bad to dry fire a Glock. The Quick Answer Dry firing modern centerfire guns is completely fine (this includes most Glocks). The firing pin does…
What Is The Sight Picture?
When you first became interested in shooting you probably heard the terms sight picture and sight alignment being thrown around. Most people tend to use the two terms interchangeably; however, they do not mean the same thing. In this guide, I will make a clear distinction between sight picture and sight alignment. To master any new trade, you must…
What is Ball Ammo
When you hear the term “ball ammo” you may be picturing an actual ball. While the term did originate from ball shaped ammo, that’s not what it means today. Most ball ammo today is cylindrical in shape. It will have a lead core coated with copper. Keep reading to learn all about the history and…
Leave a Reply