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Legal Statutes: Illinois

UPDATED January 4, 2013

Illinois Statutes


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Article 24. Deadly Weapons

back to top5/24-3.1. Unlawful possession of firearms and firearm ammunition

(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of firearms or firearm ammunition when:

(1) He is under 18 years of age and has in his possession any firearm of a size which may be concealed upon the person; or

(2) He is under 21 years of age, has been convicted of a misdemeanor other than a traffic offense or adjudged delinquent and has any firearms or firearm ammunition in his possession; or

(3) He is a narcotic addict and has any firearms or firearm ammunition in his possession; or

(4) He has been a patient in a mental hospital within the past 5 years and has any firearms or firearm ammunition in his possession; or

(5) He is intellectually disabled and has any firearms or firearm ammunition in his possession; or

(6) He has in his possession any explosive bullet.

For purposes of this paragraph “explosive bullet” means the projectile portion of an ammunition cartridge which contains or carries an explosive charge which will explode upon contact with the flesh of a human or an animal. “Cartridge” means a tubular metal case having a projectile affixed at the front thereof and a cap or primer at the rear end thereof, with the propellant contained in such tube between the projectile and the cap.

(b) Sentence.

Unlawful possession of firearms, other than handguns, and firearm ammunition is a Class A misdemeanor. Unlawful possession of handguns is a Class 4 felony. The possession of each firearm or firearm ammunition in violation of this Section constitutes a single and separate violation.

(c) Nothing in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Section prohibits a person under 18 years of age from participating in any lawful recreational activity with a firearm such as, but not limited to, practice shooting at targets upon established public or private target ranges or hunting, trapping, or fishing in accordance with the Wildlife Code or the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.
Laws 1961, p. 1983, § 24-3.1, added by Laws 1967, p. 2605, § 1, eff. Aug. 3, 1967. Amended by P.A. 77-2638, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1973; P.A. 82-338, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; P.A. 83-1056, § 1, eff. July 1, 1984; P.A. 85-669, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; P.A. 88-680, Art. 50, § 50-5, eff. Jan. 1, 1995. Re-enacted by P.A. 91-696, Art. 50, § 50-5, eff. April 13, 2000. Amended by P.A. 92-839, § 10, eff. Aug. 22, 2002; P.A. 94-284, § 10, eff. July 21, 2005; P.A. 95-331, § 1030, eff. Aug. 21, 2007; P.A. 97-227, § 135, eff. Jan. 1, 2012.