Skip to Main Content
Donate
Last updated .

For information about Illinois’s Firearms Restraining Order, see our page on Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Illinois.

In Illinois, gun owners are generally required to have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card in order to lawfully possess firearms. Legislation enacted in 2021 expressly requires the DSP to continuously monitor relevant state and federal databases for “firearms prohibitors,” such as criminal history and court records that would prohibit a person from possessing a firearm legally, and to “correlate those records” with FOID Card holders to ensure that people issued FOID Cards remain eligible to possess firearms and retain their FOID.1

DSP may suspend or revoke a FOID card if a FOID holder becomes ineligible to lawfully purchase or possess firearms under state or federal law, or otherwise becomes ineligible to possess a FOID Card, and they are required to suspend or revoke a FOID Card from anyone who becomes subject to a court protective order.2 Upon suspending or revoking a person’s FOID, the State Police are directed to provide written notice specifically stating the grounds for revocation and notifying the person regarding their relinquishment obligations, as well as their right to administrative or judicial review of the denial or revocation.3 A copy of the written notice is to be provided to the sheriff and local law enforcement agency where the person resides.4

A person who receives a FOID revocation notice must within 48 hours of receiving that notice:5

  • Relinquish their FOID card to the local law enforcement agency where the person resides or to the State Police;
  • Complete a Firearm Disposition Record form, which must disclose the make, model, and serial number of each firearm owned by the person, the location where each firearm will be maintained during the prohibited term, the name, address and FOID card number of any person taking custody of the person’s firearms, and the law enforcement agency to whom the person’s FOID Card was relinquished; and
  • “Place” their firearms in the location or with the person identified in the Firearm Disposition Record. 6

Once completed, the person is required to retain a copy of the Firearm Disposition Record and to provide a copy of the Record to the Illinois State Police.7

If a person who receives a notice of revocation fails to comply with these requirements, the sheriff or law enforcement agency where the person resides may petition the circuit court to issue a warrant to search for and seize the FOID card and firearms in the person’s possession.8

Legislation enacted in 2021 directs the State Police (within 90 days after January 1, 2022) to establish a portal for use by law enforcement agencies identifying people whose FOID Cards have been revoked or suspended, and indicating whether the person has already complied with relinquishment requirements.9  This law also directs the State Police to operate a task force responsible for conducting enforcement operations against people who fail to comply with relinquishment requirements, prioritizing individuals presenting a clear and present danger to themselves or to others, in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.10 

A separate provision of Illinois law states that, if a person is convicted of a felony and receives a sentence of probation or a conditional discharge, the person must physically surrender at a time and place designated by the court his or her Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and any and all firearms in his or her possession.11

If a person is charged with certain crimes, including forcible felony, stalking, domestic battery or any violations of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, a condition of release on bail must be that the individual surrender all firearms in his or her possession to a law enforcement officer designated by the court and surrender his or her FOID card to the clerk of the circuit court.12 The court may forego this condition if the circumstances of the case do not clearly warrant it or when its imposition would be impracticable.13 If the FOID card is confiscated, the clerk of the circuit court must mail the confiscated card to the Illinois State Police.14 All legally possessed firearms must be returned to the person upon the charges being dismissed, or if the person is found not guilty (unless found not guilty by reason of insanity).15

Firearm Seizure Act

Illinois law provides that any person can bring a complaint before a circuit court that a person possessing a firearm or firearms has threatened to use a firearm illegally. If the court is satisfied that there is any danger of such illegal use of firearms, it must issue a warrant requiring the apprehension of the person for appearance before the court, and authorizing the seizure of any firearm in the person’s possession. The court must order any firearm taken from the person to be kept by the state for safekeeping for a stated period of time no longer than one year. The firearm or firearms must be returned to the person at the end of the stated period.16

Domestic Violence Protective Orders

For circumstances when the surrender of firearms are required pursuant to a court’s domestic violence protective order, see the “Removal or Surrender of Firearms When Domestic Violence Restraining/Protective Orders Are Issued” subsection of the Domestic Violence & Firearms in Illinois section.

Admission to Mental Health Facilities

Under Illinois law, any mental hospital that admits a person as an inpatient pursuant to the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code must confiscate any firearms in the person’s possession at the time of admission, or at any time the firearms are discovered in the person’s possession during the course of hospitalization.17 The hospital must, as soon as possible following confiscation, transfer custody of the firearms to the appropriate law enforcement agency, and give written notice to the person from whom the firearm was confiscated of the identity and address of the law enforcement agency to which it has given the firearm. The law enforcement agency must maintain possession of any firearm it obtains pursuant to this subsection for a minimum of 90 days, and then dispose of the firearm after that period pursuant to state law.18

MEDIA REQUESTS

Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

Contact
  1. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/8.5.[↩]
  2. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/8; 65/8.2; 65/8.3.[↩]
  3. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/9.[↩]
  4. Id.[↩]
  5. DSP must also send a notice of the revocation to all law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction to assist with the seizure of the person’s FOID card. 430 ILCS 65/3.1.[↩]
  6. 430 Ill. Stat. Comp. 65/9.5(a).[↩]
  7. 430 Ill. Stat. Comp. 65/9.5(a).[↩]
  8. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/9.5(c), (d).[↩]
  9. 2021 IL HB 562 (enacting 20 Ill. Comp. Stat. 2605-304).[↩]
  10. 2021 IL HB 562 (enacting 20 Ill. Comp. Stat. 2605-605(7)-(10) ).[↩]
  11. 730 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/5-6-3(a)(9).[↩]
  12. 725 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/110-10(a)(5).[↩]
  13. Id.[↩]
  14. Id.[↩]
  15. Id.[↩]
  16. 725 Ill. Comp. Stat. 165/0.01, et seq.[↩]
  17. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-6(c).[↩]
  18. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-6(c).[↩]

By continuing on our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Terms & Conditions.Privacy Policy.