Critical Alert: Illinois MSR, Magazine Ban Update to NSSF Members
NSSF® is providing our Illinois members with these critical updates now that the Illinois legislature has passed, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law, HB 5471 – a ban on semiautomatic rifles, such as Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), semiautomatic shotguns and standard capacity magazines. It is imperative that our members read the law and familiarize themselves with appropriate guidelines, exemptions and procedures to ensure they stay in accordance with the new law.
Currently, NSSF is in the process of preparing to file a legal challenge to the law on behalf of the firearm industry. Please be aware that we will be surveying Illinois firearm retailers to obtain information that will be helpful and supportive of the lawsuit being filed on their behalf shortly.
The full text of the bill can be read here. However, please note below the specific sections regarding MSRs and magazines and the exemptions allowed:
Illinois FFL Guidance:
Firearm Sales/Transfer:
As of 8:15 p.m., January 10, 2023, an Illinois FFL may not sell Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) to citizens of Illinois. If the background check for purchase was initiated prior to 8:15 p.m. and is successful along with the waiting period of 72 hours, the dealer may complete the transfer. At this time for the full list of exemptions, it is recommended dealers review HB 5471, Amendment 3, found here, for firearms and magazines.
As written in Illinois House Bill 5471 there are exemptions for sales;
(1) Peace officers, as defined in Section 2-13 of this Code.
(2) Qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers as defined in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C) and as recognized under Illinois law.
(3) Acquisition and possession by a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency for the purpose of equipping the agency's peace officers as defined in paragraph (1) or of this subsection (e).
(4) Wardens, superintendents, and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails, and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense.
(5) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while performing their official duties or while traveling to or from their places of duty.
(6) Any company that employs armed security officers in this State at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and any person employed as an armed security force member at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission who has completed the background screening and training mandated by the rules and regulations of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and while performing official duties.
(7) Any private security contractor agency licensed under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 that employs private security contractors and any private security contractor who is licensed and has been issued a firearm control card under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 while performing official duties.
(f) The provisions of this Section do not apply to or affect any of the following:
(1) Manufacture, delivery, sale, import, purchase, or possession of an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge or causing the manufacture, delivery, sale, importation, purchase, or possession of those items:
(A) for sale or transfer to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection (e) to possess those items;
(B) for sale or transfer to the United States or any department or agency thereof; or
(C) for sale or transfer in another state or for export.
Magazines:
Illinois FFL’s may sell rifle magazines not to exceed 10 rounds and handgun magazines not to exceed 15 rounds to citizens of Illinois, except for as exempted below:
As written in Illinois House Bill 5471 there are exemptions for sales;
(e) The provisions of this Section regarding the purchase or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, as well as the provisions of this Section that prohibit causing those items to be purchased or possessed, do not apply to:
(1) Peace officers as defined in Section 2-13 of this Code.
(2) Qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers as defined in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C) and as recognized under Illinois law.
(3) A federal, State, or local law enforcement agency for the purpose of equipping the agency's peace officers as defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (e).
(4) Wardens, superintendents, and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails, and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense.
(5) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while their official duties or while traveling to or from their places of duty.
6) Any company that employs armed security officers in this State at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and any person employed as an armed security force member at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission who has completed the background screening and training mandated by the rules and regulations of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and while performing official duties.
(7) Any private security contractor agency licensed under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 that employs private security contractors and any private security contractor who is licensed and has been issued a firearm control card under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 while performing official duties.
(f) This Section does not apply to or affect any of the following:
(1) Manufacture, delivery, sale, importation, purchase, or possession or causing to be manufactured, delivered, sold, imported, purchased, or possessed a large capacity ammunition feeding device:
(A) for sale or transfer to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through (7) of subsection (e) to possess those items; (B) for sale or transfer to the United States or any department or agency thereof; or (C) for sale or transfer in another state or for export.
(2) Sale or rental of large capacity ammunition feeding devices for blank-firing assault weapons and .50 caliber rifles, to persons authorized or permitted, or both authorized and permitted, to acquire these devices for the purpose of rental for use solely as props for a motion picture, television, or video production or entertainment event.
