Gun Rights

There are minimal consequences for failing to register, and whether the law is even enforced depends heavily on where you live and how authorities discover an unregistered gun.

With Illinois' assault weapons registration looming on January 1, some questions remain from the public on which guns are banned, how to file disclosures and what happens next.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham wrote the unanimous opinion that found the Illinois State Police can deny records requests for details about Firearm Owner’s Identification Cards, even if the requester is seeking their own records.

The legislation, stalled at the Illinois statehouse, is aimed at taking guns from those accused of domestic violence.

Officials at the Illinois State Police said they are working to finalize rules for registering assault weapons and other items that are now tightly regulated under the state’s new assault weapons ban as a Jan. 1 compliance deadline approaches.

The high court is already set to consider several gun-related cases this term. The U.S. Supreme Court had also declined to issue an injunction on Illinois' ban back in May 2023.

The law enforcement agency agreed to further hearings at request of state rulemaking committee.

The Connecticut-based National Shooting Sports Foundation filed the suit in federal court in East St. Louis on Monday, just two days after Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill into law.

The opinion was handed down in a lawsuit by a central Illinois lawmaker who argued that banning the sale of high-powered rifles and high-capacity magazines violates the state constitution.

There could be consequences for people who openly display a gun and don’t have a concealed carry permit, such as a fine of at least $500 and up to 30 days in jail.