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Is this in Cook County? [cut]
I live in Iowa (no FOID required) but shoot across the river in Moline IL
I don't (yet) feel your pain.
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There are several excemptions, mostly for non-residents. Here's a link to the FOID law...
www.legis.state.il.us/ilcs/ch430/ch430act65.htm
It's at least a class A misdemeanor (I think you can go to jail for it).
Here's the excemptions:
(b) The provisions of this Section regarding the possession of firearms and firearm ammunition do not apply to:
(1) United States Marshals;
(2) Members of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard;
(3) Federal officials required to carry firearms;
(4) Members of bona fide veterans organizations which receive firearms directly from the armed forces of the United States, while using the firearms for ceremonial purposes with blank ammunition;
(5) Nonresident hunters during hunting season, with valid nonresident hunting licenses and while in an area where hunting is permitted; however, at all other times and in all other places these persons must have their firearms unloaded and enclosed in a case;
(6) Those hunters exempt from obtaining a hunting license who are required to submit their Firearm Owner's Identification Card when hunting on Department of Natural Resources owned or managed sites;
(7) Nonresidents while on a firing or shooting range recognized by the Department of State Police;
(8) Nonresidents while at a firearm showing or display recognized by the Department of State Police;
(9) Nonresidents whose firearms are unloaded and enclosed in a case;
(10) Nonresidents who are currently licensed or registered to possess a firearm in their resident state;
(11) Unemancipated minors while in the custody and immediate control of their parent or legal guardian or other person in loco parentis to the minor if the parent or legal guardian or other person in loco parentis to the minor has a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card;
(12) Color guards of bona fide veterans organizations or members of bona fide American Legion bands while using firearms for ceremonial purposes with blank ammunition;
(13) Nonresident hunters whose state of residence does not require them to be licensed or registered to possess a firearm and only during hunting season, with valid hunting licenses, while accompanied by, and using a firearm owned by, a person who possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card and while in an area within a commercial club licensed under the Wildlife Code where hunting is permitted and controlled, but in no instance upon sites owned or managed by the Department of Natural Resources; and
(14) Resident hunters who are properly authorized to hunt and, while accompanied by a person who possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, hunt in an area within a commercial club licensed under the Wildlife Code where hunting is permitted and controlled.
SO, you're better off NOT being a citizen in Illinois..