Gun Laws (Chicago, Oak Park: apartment, home, crime)

[Summerset]

Hello,

I am very seriously considering a move to your wonderful and exciting city. I am confused by the research on the Web I've turned up about gun laws there. I want to be able to keep one in my apartment for protection, but the wording on some sites has me baffled.
Example:

[SIZE=-1]"The City of Chicago requires all firearms possessed in the city to be registered. Handguns not previously registered in Chicago cannot be registered."

Meaning what? You can only own a gun that has been purchased there?

I also found out that concealed carrying is not permitted. Lots of states have this, but it is extremely important to me to be able to have one in my home.

Any input is appreciated!


[/SIZE]

[Chinolala]

Let me clarify some things for you. First of all, Chicago has a complete ban on hand guns. Chicago residents cannot own them; they're illegal and you can serve anywhere from 6 months to 10 years in jail for having one, even in your home. Secondly, you cannot carry concealed weapons in Chicago, nor can you open carry. You can open carry in Illinois, but only when hunting. To legally own a gun here, you have to obtain a Firearms Owners Identification card which is obtained through the Illinois State Police. There are cities in Illinois that ban guns all together. Cook County (the county that Chicago is located in) outlawed assault rifles and magazines. Illinois has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation. If you must have a gun in your home, I would recommend calling the Chicago Police Department to find out if you can, and what the restrictions are.

[Summerset]

Originally Posted by lisak64

... Chicago residents cannot own them; they're illegal ...


...To legally own a gun here, you have to obtain a Firearms Owners Identification card which is obtained through the Illinois State Police....

Which is it?

[irvm]

Originally Posted by Summerset

Which is it?

Chicago does not fill up the whole state.

[Bill-]

You cannot legally own a handgun in the city of Chicago unless you posessed it prior to the ban and it is registered. You can own a shotgun or Rifle in the city of Chicago, but it has to be registered with the City. In most suburbs and the rest of the state you can own a handgun. All gun owners in Illinois must posess an FOID card issued by the state police.

[gardener34]

I think to clarify gun laws - there is a site: packing.org

that you can check. IL has very strict gun laws. There is no concealed carry in IL. Oak Park and Chicago they are completely illegal to own. Not the place for you to live. Try a suburb.

[Mathguy]

Wow, what a utopia....surely Chicago must have almost no gun crime. <puke>

[via chicago]

yea, because i would feel so much more comfortable sitting at a bar with 15 other dudes with 6 shooters strapped to their belts

[Summerset]

Originally Posted by irvm

Chicago does not fill up the whole state.

That makes no sense. I was asking her 'which is it?' legal or illegal. I don't understand your comment, and no need to get hostile.

I'm finding it hard to believe you can' t own a gun in your own home with a permit/license whatever is needed to properly register it. How can they ban a person from owning a gun, exactly?

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Summerset

That makes no sense. I was asking her 'which is it?' legal or illegal. I don't understand your comment, and no need to get hostile.

I'm finding it hard to believe you can' t own a gun in your own home with a permit/license whatever is needed to properly register it. How can they ban a person from owning a gun, exactly?

Its Chicago's own law. Its been on the books since 1983. DC had a similar ban since the 70s (which was recently struck down). Its likely Chicago and many other municipalities will be challenged as well. In the meantime you're SOL.