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Illinois has some of the strongest gun laws in the country, and much of its gun violence is due to guns trafficked in from neighboring states with weak laws.

Recently, Illinois has taken critical action to invest in community violence intervention programs, close gaps in its firearm relinquishment laws, strengthen background check processes, regulate the ghost gun industry, and comprehensively restrict uniquely dangerous weapons like large-capacity magazines and assault weapons. In 2022, Illinois had the twentieth lowest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 1,657 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 5 hours. Thirty-six percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 62% are gun homicides. In Illinois, the rate of gun deaths increased 68% from 2013 to 2022, compared to a 36% increase nationwide.

What Illinois Does Well

  • Universal background checks
  • Gun owner licensing
  • Extreme risk protection orders
  • Domestic violence gun laws
  • Community violence intervention funding
  • Minimum age laws
  • Waiting periods
  • Open carry regulations
  • Lost & stolen firearm reporting
  • Ghost gun regulations
  • Assault weapon restrictions
  • Large capacity magazine ban
  • Regulating gun dealers
  • Gun industry accountability law

What Illinois Is Missing

  • Central searchable law enforcement repository of firearm sale records
  • Firearm access restrictions for people convicted of most violent misdemeanors
  • Bulk firearm purchase restrictions
  • Stronger local authority to regulate firearms
  • Stronger child access prevention or safe storage laws
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SPOTLIGHT

GUN LAW SCORECARD

The data is clear: states with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.

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