Curio & Relic license and Illinois

[Casull]

I'm thinking about getting a C & R, but was wondering if anyone from Illinois has one.  I was checking the state statutes on line to try and determine if mail orders are in violation of any state laws.  Don't want to get in any trouble with Comrade Blago in the governor's office.  I know I have tried to order ammo from Midway (I do order my reloading supplies there), but was told they cannot ship ammo to Illinois.  I think they are wrong about that (last year an amendment was passed to the FOID act to allow for ammo sales), but so far no ammo orders through the mail.  Any replies or info will be greatly appreciated.  By the way, I just found GB Outdoors a few weeks ago, but must say I am very impressed with the level of information and knowledge of the fellows here.  Thanks for any input. :shock:

[goosepit]

I'm in Illinois , I dont have a C&R yet but I applied for it at the beginning of FEB. so hopefully any day now. I talked to a guy who was close to Chicago and he said he could not have handguns shipped to him but long guns were no problem.The way I see it is that FFL's have guns shipped to them in Illinois, So you would be the holder of a different kind of FFL where it would be legal for you to recieve guns legal to your FFL. You should be able to get ammo shipped to you also as long as they have a copy of your FOID card. Some of the people at Midway dont know what there doing , I couldnt get them to ship me 475 Linebaugh brass because they said there was some state law( a state law agianst 475 and 500 linebaugh brass, But no other brass???) Anyway I think your biggest problem will be how close to Chicago you live.
                     
                                             Scott

[Casull]

Thanks Goosepit.  Fortunately I don't live very close to Chicago (outside of Rockford).  I will be sending my application in tomorrow and can't wait.  Looking forward to "saving" lots of money (if I can afford it).

[Cement Man]

Casull, my neighbor and hunting buddy has one.  He is always very well informed on the laws, so I will ask him for you.  I am in Morrison, about 60 miles SW of Rockford.  My daughter lives near Genoa.  In the past year or so, I have discovered that we Illinoisans can not even order a muzzleloader kit through the mail anymore.   That is about the final straw for me.  I have been an NRA member since '62 and an ISRA member for about 25 years, but I have been unable to get an explanation of the why and when this rediculous restriction was imposed.  I am 60 and ready to retire - didn't plan on moving in this stage of life, but I'd rather live in a state that allows me order a Hawken rifle kit without having an FFL.  Anyway, I will inquire with my buddy.  I collect Swedish Mausers, have some Argentine, Brazilian, Enfields, Springfied 03's, etc.  Looking for another shooting range in  our area - where do you shoot?  

[Casull]

Thanks for checking on that for me Cement Man.  I couldn't agree more about the state of things here in the Peoples Republik of Illinois.  I did chat with some guys over at the AmBack Forum, and decided to go ahead with the C & R application (mailed it in today).  Other than indoor ranges (which I don't care for), the only place I've found that's relatively close (for me anyway) is the Sycamore Sportmans Club in Sycamore.  They have a pretty decent set-up (100 yard, fifty yard and twenty-five yard ranges (actually right next to each other), as well a shotgun range.   I don't know how that's set up (skeet, trap, sporting clays?), but they seem to be a pretty decent bunch.  Ten dollars to shoot (noon to 4:00 on Saturdays and Sundays), or two dollars if your a member (I'm not).  Anyway, its nice to talk with someone who shares my misery about the state of things here (at least glad to see that Daley and Blago's "assault" weapons ban didn't pass a couple of weeks ago - though I'm sure they will keep trying).  Being only forty-four and with an established business here, I'm probably stuck for the next twenty or so years.

[Cement Man]

Casull,
 I talked to my buddy tonight.  Here are the details as I remember:  Mail order direct to your house is no problem.  There is a very specific list of firearms that you can order under this license - mostly military or historical, over 50 years old.  Doesn't matter handguns or long arms, but must be on the list.  You send the seller your signed copy of license, plus FOID, and some proof of residency/citizenship such as voter's registration also.  No full autos allowed, but vintage M-1's, .45acp pistols, etc. are allowed.  You cannot resell or profit by the license - or order for friends. The object of the license is for the collector to acquire for his personal collection.  You must keep the "bound book" recording your transactions and collection, and it must be available for inspection - although this rarely happens.  LOcal sherriff or law enforcement must be informed of your license status.  My buddy says he would encourage anyone who is interested in collecting these types of firearms to obtain this license.  Hope this helps. Good luck.

[simonkenton]

Tell, me Illinois men, when did these Big Brother firearms restrictions begin in  your state? Did this all start as a reaction against the Black Panthers in Chicago in the '60s?

[Casull]

Although I was just a kid at the time, it's my understanding that they began in the late 60's, about the time of Robert Kennedy's assassination.  This would correspond with the 1968 Gun Control Act (which came out of the same hysteria).  Presently, we have two rabid anti-gunners running the state, the governor, Rod Blagoevich (spelling?) and his boss, Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago.  Although Daley is probably in place for life, I see some rays of hope that Blago will be gone come November.

[Cement Man]

As I recall, we got the FOID card restriction in 1968. Then I really didn't object to that - you had to have a picture ID (after an Illinois State Police background check) to posess or buy firearms and ammo.  Of course, little by little - air rifles or projectiles over .16 caliber get included, and the penalty for being in posession without the FOID card goes up too.. I think that technically, if my wife were driving our car and she had no FOID card, and I had dropped a .177 airgun pellet on the car floor and she didn't know it, she might be guilty of ammo possession without an FOID card.  We also got waiting periods - 1 day long guns, 3 day for handguns. Additionally, we have the background check again when one picks up the firearm after the waiting period - costs $3 to call in to the State Police and get another approval.  Then we have municipalities banning just about everything. I believe that someone driving to O'Hare airport enroute to a hunting trip with a properly stowed shotgun might be in legal jeopardy in Chicago.  No mercy for gun owners around Chicago or many suburbs.  I belong to a veterans post with a shooting team (in Cook County).  They shoot mainly AR's.  A lot of members are elderly WWII vets who like the accuracy, light weight and low recoil. I believe Cook County banned these "assault weapons".  So these fine, honorable, veterans/citizens shouldn't be allowed their sport?  I went to a high school in the Chicago burbs in the early 60's that had shooting club and a range in the basement.  We shot .22's in a high school basement.  Times have sure changed, huh? By the way, out of a school of almost 4,000 students, I'm not aware that any of them ever committed any violent crimes. The Illinois Politburo defines a firearm the way they want to - anything that shoots a projectile by expanding gas.  So in Illinois that includes black powder firearms and KITS, which can only be purchased through an FFL dealer and has the same record-keeping requirements as 4473 firearms.  ATF does not define a muzzleloader as such - but in Illinois it is.
We are also required (as individuals)to keep records of all firearms and transactions for 10 years.  When all this started I never felt that there was anything wrong with common sense gun laws - but it never, ever stops and leads to nonsense.  How many background checks are enough?  The fact that I can no longer order a muzzleloader or a kit just gripes me to no end.  What does that accomplish?  The stated objective of Chicago's Daley and our governor is simply no guns, and I don't believe that we are one bit safer after all this nonsense.

[simonkenton]

That is an appalling report.
As you say,
 "The stated objective of Chicago's Daley and our governor is simply no guns"
The Illinois FOID system is the blueprint for the entire country. It is a matter of time.

[Cement Man]

The galling part to me is that the FOID system is a requirement that restricts us and provides the framework to prosecute us, but gets no recognition or acceptance that since we presumably passed an Illinois State Police background check, we should be allowed to own, acquire, and possess legal firearms and ammunition according to federal statutes.  After the FOID card was introduced, a Chicago newspaper sent in a completed application for John Dillinger and a card was issued (by the Illinois State Police) and returned to them.  That made a mockery of the system, and so the liberal public was happy to embrace more and more firearms restrictions.  It has never mattered that crime statistics (objectively collected and evaluateded) do not support the conclusions that 1,000 gun laws are any more effective than 100 gun laws in reducing crime.  It is simply political fodder.  At election time the politicos show up in a rural area with a camo shirt on, then after they get elected they pander to the urban liberals.  In Illinois, the areas away from Chicago metro are referred to as "downstate".  Our present governor carried "downstate" in the last election.  He is an absolute anti-gunner (even though they all claim to be pro-hunter) and he duped a lot of people. Anyway, I think I am way off the topic of this forum, so apologies for that.  But being a 60 year old, crime-free, honorably discharged veteran, hunter safety instructor, FOID card holder, (and I think), hard-working, contributing member of society - it really bugs me that now I can no longer call Cabela's or Dixie Gun Works and order a kit to build my grandson a muzzleloader. As a matter of fact, I don't think I could legally give that muzzleloader, or kit, to my grandson because he doesn't have an FOID card. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?:x

[dcl]

Hey casull. I live in rochelle. I was wondering if you ever tried the tri-county gun club. It is between millegeville and polo. they have handgun ranges, trap, and 100,200 yd rifle ranges. there website is :www.tcgc.net i am not a member there but try to go to some of the rifle events they hold. nice place, good people. or you might try the rochelle wildlife conservation club. I am a member there. 100 yd range which is for all shooting. just a matter of sharing the range. $30 a yr to join range is real busy on weekends but the club has decent fishing and a archery range hope this helps. dcl

[Casull]

Hello dcl,

Outstanding post.  I live in Cherry Valley, so Rochelle is only twenty minutes away.  I would be very interested in joining.  Who should I contact?  The fishing aspect sounds good too.  Are there any requirements as far as range work or such (if so how many hours a year)?  Look forward to hearing back from you.

[dcl]

pm sent to ya casull. dcl