December 31, 1969
With the Illinois Concealed Carry Law now a done-deal, the question on the collective minds of literally hundreds of thousands of Illinois gun owners is, how do I get my IL Concealed Carry License? Before you can legally carry a concealed weapon on your person in the state of Illinois, you need to first make sure that you’ve meet all of the state’s official requirements. Failing to do so could end costing you time, stress and quite possibly jail time.
First, Get Your FOID Card
If you’re absolutely brand new to firearms ownership, the first place to start is by applying for an Illinois FOID card. If this term is new to you, your FOID, or Firearm Owner Identification, is a card issued by the state police, which allows you to own, operate, or transport a handgun, rife, shotgun, etc. There has been a lot of debate over what items can be used to deny a person from being granted a new firearm owner’s ID. The most historically relevant seem to be past felonies, mental health history and other factors, as these are all generally taken into consideration when (and before) issuing a FOID card in IL.
Here’s a link that will take you directly to the IL State Police website, if you’re looking for more information on getting your Illinois FOID card.
Next, Take the State-Approved IL Concealed Carry Training Course
Once you have obtained your FOID, or if you already have a valid one, you can then register for the Illinois Concealed Carry course. This is the CCL permit class that needs to be taken in order for you to legally carry a concealed pistol anywhere in IL, Chicago, the suburbs etc. The course curriculum was developed by the IL State Police and consists of 16 hours of training, divided into two distinct sections.
The beauty of this, is that if you’ve already taken the NRA Basic Pistol Safety training course (or another comparable approved course/experience), you may not have to take the full 16 hours. Let’s review both sections to give you a better understanding of which class you will need to take, in order to properly obtain your IL CCL permit.
Part 1: NRA Basic Pistol Safety
This is essentially an introduction to firearms ownership, and covers a wide range of topics having to do with gun safety, cleaning and operating a handgun, pistol storage and care, and other essentials of owning a gun. It was developed by the NRA (National Rifle Association) and is required for all those who intend on obtaining a valid Concealed Carry permit in Illinois, or IL CCL. Whether you’re a complete novice or hobby gun collector, this is the place to start.
If you have already taken this course, or if you have other applicable training or experience with firearms, such as military or police training, you may be exempt from taking Day 1 of the two-day CCL training. Contact us to find out if you can bypass the Basic Pistol section.
Part 2: IL Concealed Carry Training & Certification
Once you have completed the Basic Pistol training, or if it has been established that you can skip it, you can then register for the concealed carry training needed to get your Illinois CCL. This class takes a more in-depth look at the IL Concealed Carry Law, including a wide range of legal regulations. You will learn where a concealed gun may and may not be carried, where it can be concealed on your person, how and when to draw, proper firing techniques, and much more.
Day 2 of the two-day course includes both classroom and range time, and students are traditionally allowed to use their own pistol during the shooting portion of training. Once completed, you will have all the training needed to legally carry a concealed weapon in the state of Illinois.
Concealed Carry Permit Training in Chicago
Here at Concealed Carry of Illinois LC, we offer the complete 16 hour CCL course over a 2-day weekend, as well as individual 8 hour single-day CCL classes for those with past training, in addition to those who cannot attend both days over the same weekend. We have classes scheduled throughout Chicago and all suburbs, and will be adding many new classes in 2014.
For more information on getting your IL Concealed Carry permit, or to register over the phone, please call us at 847-322-6800.