An Illinois Firearm Bill of Sale is a necessary document for gun sellers to transfer ownership. It serves as proof of ownership and reduces sale risks. Only licensed individuals may sell firearms in Illinois.
Buyers or possessors of firearms must have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card, which sellers must check before completing the sale. Thus, having an Illinois firearm bill of sale is crucial for any firearm transaction.
State Laws for Selling a Gun in Illinois
Minimum Age to Purchase
In Illinois, minors under the age of 21 are prohibited from purchasing firearms without written consent from a parent or guardian. Additionally, individuals must be over the age of 21 to apply for a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card [1] .
Permit for Purchase
Any Illinois resident who buys or possesses firearms must have a valid FOID card. Sellers must confirm that the buyer has a valid FOID card before completing the sale [1] .
Register a Gun
Illinois does not specifically require firearm registration. However, the extensive process of applying for a FOID card fulfills many of the same requirements of proof of ownership.
Open Carry Permit
Illinois does not allow open carry of any firearm.
Concealed Carry Permit
To concealed-carry in Illinois, individuals must obtain a concealed-carry license in addition to their FOID card. Firearms must be carried in an inaccessible, unloaded state in a closed container or in an unworking condition unless the individual has a concealed-carry license. Illinois is a shall-issue state, meaning the state will issue a permit to anyone qualified under state law [2] .
How to Apply
Applicants may apply with their local state police.
- Step 1 – Firearm Owner’s Identification Card: Obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card if you do not already have one.
- Step 2 – Application: Complete an application and ensure you attach a color photograph taken within the past thirty (30) days.
- Step 3 – Firearm Competency: Show proof of competence with a firearm.
- Step 4 – Submission: Submit your application to the Illinois State Police along with fingerprints for a background check.
- Step 5 – Fees: Pay a $150 application fee (current as of June 2023)
- Step 6 – Issuance: The Illinois State Police issues licenses within ninety (90) days of receiving an application.
Gun Reciprocity
Illinois does not recognize other states’ concealed carry permits. Currently, 29 states recognize Illinois’ concealed-carry permits [3] .
Restrictions on Firearm Ownership
Illinois has specific restrictions on who may possess a firearm. These restrictions include [1] :
- Minors under 21 without written consent from a parent or guardian.
- Anyone convicted of a felony.
- Individuals addicted to narcotics.
- Those who have been hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital within the last five years or adjudicated mentally disabled.
- Unlawful immigrants and those on nonimmigrant visas.
- Residents of states outside Illinois.
- Individuals under domestic violence restraining orders.
- It is illegal for any individual falling under these categories to own a firearm in Illinois.
Firearm Inheritance Laws
Restrictions on firearm sales in Illinois do not apply to “transfers as a bona fide gift to the transferor’s husband, wife, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law.” (430 ILCS 65/3)
Minors under the age of 18 may not possess firearms, and residents must be over the age of 21 to apply for an FOID card.
Taken together, firearms may be passed in inheritance but not owned or used by individuals until they reach age 21.
