Illinois law has changed effective July 13, 2015 regarding concealed carry of guns, including updates to the criminal Unlawful Use of a Weapon statute.

Most importantly, a concealed carry permit holder no longer must carry or present both a valid FOID and Concealed Carry permit. The latter will do alone. Additionally of significance is a change in language that previously required a concealed carry permit holder to unload a handgun before storing or retrieving their weapon from the trunk of a vehicle. Now a permit holder can retain the protection of their weapon until safe storage or retrieval is achieved. 

A summary of the changes under the new law signed as PA 099-0029 was published by the Illinois State Rifle Association and appears below    

From the ISRA:

SB 836 contains the following changes:

Firearms Concealed Carry Act:

1. Limits the waiver of privacy rights regarding the concealed carry application to only those records pertinent to obtaining a concealed carry license.

2. Clarifies that if a concealed carry licensee presents their ICCL during a law enforcement investigative stop that it is presumed they are carrying a firearm.

3. Clarifies the definition of a "mental disability" as it pertains to persons seeking a concealed carry license.

4. Eliminates the requirement that a licensee unload his or her firearm when storing or retrieving a firearm from the trunk of their vehicle.

5. Provides that Emergency Service personnel may ask anyone lawfully carrying a firearm to secure the firearm for the duration of the contact.

6. Changes mental health reporting requirements.

FOID Act:

7. Allows the use of a concealed carry license when purchasing firearms or ammunition.

8. Allows concealed carry licensees to possess firearms and ammunition without being in physical possession of their FOID card.

9. Changes the FOID Act to ensure that non-resident competitors may purchase firearms and ammunition at events held at the World Shooting Complex.

Criminal Code:

10. Eliminates a contradiction between Concealed Carry Act and the criminal definition of unlawful use of weapon.