Illinois General Assembly Begins To Exercise Its Exclusive Authority Over Firearms

Steven Elrod is a Partner in the Chicago office

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Illinois General Assembly has approved a bill that, if signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, would make it unlawful for a person to engage in the business of selling, leasing or otherwise transferring firearms without a license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
• The Gun Dealer Licensing Act, adopted by both the House and the Senate, also imposes distance requirements for businesses that receive a license. Specifically, the premises where a gun dealer licensee operates cannot be located within 500 feet of any school, preschool or daycare facility. Importantly for local governments, the Act specifically provides that it "does not limit the authority of a local government to impose and enforce additional limits on the location of a business regulated under this Act."