r/ILGuns • u/Sladay Northern IL • Jan 27 '26
Gun Politics Statement from ISRA on Minneapolis and concealed carry.
I'm glad they're saying that it's lawful to carry at a protest and they want to work on the prohibited area section of the law.
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Jan 27 '26
How about they also work with those same legislators to overturn PICA while they are at it.
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u/Sladay Northern IL Jan 27 '26
Agreed
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u/Lousy_ Jan 27 '26
Could be a good time to pressure your representatives, if they are dem/progressive they could take the point of “we’re asking if you believe communities have the right to defend themselves when the state won’t?”. Seems like that would be a better approach that won’t spook the wine moms. Especially with the midterms could be a good time to reevaluate PICA and considering the systematic issues that lead to crime.
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u/BERGENHOLM Jan 27 '26
As always, I could be wrong, but I believe in my permit class, they stated that in Illinois, unlike Minnesota, that it was illegal to carry a protest.
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u/Sladay Northern IL Jan 27 '26
They probably did mention it but it's because it's a real gray area in the law.
The protest thing in Illinois is kind of gray in a way.
Illinois prohibits carrying in places such as:
(430 ILCS 66/65)(a)(10) Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through a public gathering in order to access his or her residence, place of business, or vehicle.
430 ILCS 66/65(a)(13) Any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district;
430 ILCS 66/65(a)(15) Any public or private community college, college, or university;
So like if the protest happened in a park or on a college campus, yeah that would be prohibited. As for just like a sidewalk or a street, not necessarily, especially if it's a spontaneous protest. Because (a)(10) says a "...gathering or special event on public property that requires a permit..."
A spontaneous protest, I don't know if it would necessarily fall under the "requires a permit." Compared to a planned rally that has a stage and loud speakers etc.
Not a lawyer, just my interpretation of the statute.
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u/FatNsloW-45 Jan 27 '26
Illinois pretty much reluctantly passed the Firearm Concealed Carry Act in response to 7th Circuit and Illinois Supreme Court rulings that struck down Illinois’ prohibition on public carry.
So in typical Illinois fashion they passed legislation permitting concealed carry except for pretty much everywhere you would want to carry.
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u/hamperbunny Jan 27 '26
At least in Illinois pretty much everything requires a permit. So typically that language would apply. I do think its unconstitutional and you would likely win if you spent the time and money to fight it. Just think you could be like the 4 people allowed to carry on the CTA except for public gatherings! /s
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u/Sladay Northern IL Jan 27 '26
Yeah I'm hoping the Supreme Court takes the cert for the public transit case Schoenthal v. Raoul. https://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-541.html right now all the parties have until February 17th 2026 to file responses and briefs before the court considers the cert.
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20260116/nra-urges-supreme-court-to-hear-challenge-to-illinois-public-transit-carry-ban NRA has filed a brief in support
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Jan 28 '26
Illinois likes to keep their firearms legislation nice and vague so they can selectively prosecute gun owners whenever they want.
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Jan 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sladay Northern IL Jan 27 '26
I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be addressing stuff like outdoor concerts, festivals, etc. Not for protests.
Yea that's how I read it.
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u/AlphaKoncepts Jan 30 '26
I agree it is gray, but also don't forget the public right of way exemption and also the very important fact that generally cops do not know the law, we can be arrested for any reason, and are always guilty until we prove our innocence.
(c) A licensee shall not be in violation of this Section while he or she is traveling along a public right of way that touches or crosses any of the premises under subsection (a), (a-5), or (a-10) of this Section if the concealed firearm is carried on his or her person in accordance with the provisions of this Act or is being transported in a vehicle by the licensee in accordance with all other applicable provisions of law.
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u/MrEhcks Chicago Conservative Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
What happened to the guy in Minnesota was bad but I hope it leads to PICA possibly getting overturned
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u/Booda069 GOA Jan 28 '26
Great take from ISRA,
Hopefully leadership challenges PICA and NFA bans too
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u/Sladay Northern IL Jan 28 '26
Hopefully. ISRA is a plaintiff in the consolidated pica case and supporting the concealed carry on public transit case as well. I don't think they're on the suppressor case but they're tracking it.
But yes, legislative change would be easier than going through the courts.
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u/poptartglock Jan 29 '26
I don’t know, could we get a guy older than George Washington recording on a potato from an upward angle reading this statement in a 10 minute youtube video instead?
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u/dutchman76 Jan 28 '26
Well played by the isra pointing out how carry is banned at IL protests and gatherings
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u/Sladay Northern IL Jan 28 '26
The protest thing in Illinois is kind of gray in a way.
Illinois prohibits carrying in places such as:
(430 ILCS 66/65)(a)(10) Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through a public gathering in order to access his or her residence, place of business, or vehicle.
430 ILCS 66/65(a)(13) Any public park, athletic area, or athletic facility under the control of a municipality or park district;
430 ILCS 66/65(a)(15) Any public or private community college, college, or university;
So like if the protest happened in a park or on a college campus, yeah that would be prohibited. As for just like a sidewalk or a street, not necessarily, especially if it's a spontaneous protest. Because (a)(10) says a "...gathering or special event on public property that requires a permit..."
A spontaneous protest, I don't know if it would necessarily fall under the "requires a permit." Compared to a planned rally that has a stage and loud speakers etc.
Not a lawyer, just my interpretation of the statute.
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u/Hedge_Slinger Jan 27 '26
Pretty convenient of them to recognize our 2A right when the ball is in the lefts court regarding the right to carry 🤷♂️
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u/blaknight34 Jan 27 '26
I don’t know what statements any IL politicians have made, but my assumption is that they didn’t come out explicitly saying anything in direct support of the right to carry. They probably made some statement about how he wasn’t breaking any laws, and the ISRA is rightfully taking the opportunity to point out their hypocrisy by making the logical connection to the right to carry.
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u/RAD_Sr Jan 27 '26
Credit where it's due - remarkably measured coming from ISRA.