<P> Gun laws in Illinois regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Illinois in the United States . </P> <P> To legally possess firearms or ammunition, Illinois residents must have a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, which is issued by the Illinois State Police to any qualified applicant . Non-residents who may legally possess firearms in their home state are exempt from this requirement . </P> <P> The state police issue licenses for the concealed carry of handguns to qualified applicants age 21 or older who pass a 16 - hour training course . However, any law enforcement agency can object to an individual being granted a license "based upon a reasonable suspicion that the applicant is a danger to himself or herself or others, or a threat to public safety". Objections are considered by a Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, which decides whether or not the license will be issued, based on "a preponderance of the evidence". Licenses issued by other states are not recognized, except for carry in a vehicle . Open carry is prohibited in most areas . When a firearm is being transported by a person without a concealed carry license, it must be unloaded and enclosed in a case, or broken down in a non-functioning state, or not immediately accessible . </P> <P> There is a waiting period to take possession after purchasing a firearm--72 hours for a handgun, or 24 hours for a rifle or shotgun . For private sales, the seller must verify the buyer's FOID card, and keep a record of the sale for at least 10 years . Lost or stolen guns must be reported to the police . Possession of automatic firearms, short - barreled shotguns, or suppressors is prohibited . Possession of short - barreled rifles is permitted only for those who have an ATF Curios and Relics license or are a member of a military reenactment group . The state does not restrict the sale or possession of firearms that have been defined as assault weapons, or of magazines that can hold more than a certain number of rounds of ammunition, but some local jurisdictions do restrict them . </P>

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