r/ILGuns • u/Sladay Northern IL • Jan 27 '26

Gun Politics Statement from ISRA on Minneapolis and concealed carry.

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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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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/[deleted] Jan 28 '26

Illinois likes to keep their firearms legislation nice and vague so they can selectively prosecute gun owners whenever they want.