2025 Legal Guide to Selling a Gun in Illinois (IL)

Illinois Firearm Ownership Restrictions

In 2023, Illinois adopted the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The new law signifies a renewed effort from Illinois state law makers to regulate assault weapons for the interest of public safety. The new state law restricts ownership on a variety of firearms based on features, capacities, modifications and specific models.

The newly banned firearm features and magazine capacities for firearms include the following characteristics:

• Semi-automatic rifles with a capacity to accept detachable magazines and possess features like pistol grips, telescoping stocks, flash suppressors and more.
• Semi-automatic rifles with fixed magazines that can accept more than 10 rounds (except certain devices compatible only with .22 caliber rimfire ammunition).
• Semi-automatic pistols with features like threaded barrels, shrouds, flash suppressors, Magazine capacities and the ability to accept magazines outside of the pistol grip.
• Semi-automatic shotguns with features such as pistol grips, fixed magazines with a capacity of more than 5 rounds, and the capacity to accept detachable magazines.
• Firearms that can accept belt ammunition feeding devices and those modified to function as assault weapons.

In addition to federal restrictions on ownership of a firearm, Illinois has its own set of state restrictions. The following disqualifies a person from owning a firearm in Illinois:

• Not been adjudicated as a mental defective.
• Not been a patient in a mental institution or any part of a medical facility for the treatment of mental illness within the past 5 years.
• Not intellectually disabled or developmentally disabled.
• Not within the past year (preceding the date of this application) used or been addicted to any controlled substance or narcotics in violation of state or federal law.
• Not subject of an existing Order of Protection or a No Contact/No Stalking Order.
• Not within the past 5 years been convicted of battery, assault, aggravated assault, violation of an order of protection, or a substantially similar offense in which a firearm was used or possessed.
• Not been convicted of domestic battery (felony or misdemeanor), aggravated domestic battery or a substantially similar offense.
• Not been adjudicated by a court as a mental defective or ordered by a court, board or authorized entity to in-patient or out-patient mental health treatment.
• Not an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States.
• Not within the past year failed a drug test for a drug for which I did not have a prescription.
• Not been admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Never renounced my citizenship as a citizen of the United States.
• Never been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.
• Not a fugitive from justice.

FEDERAL DISQUALIFICATION CATEGORIES

• Conviction (felony or misdemeanor) where the crime has a maximum imprisonment term exceeding 1 year (even if a buyer did not receive actual imprisonment exceeding 1 year).
• Warrant (felony or out-of-state misdemeanor).
• Felony pre-trial release.
• Misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence restraining/stalking/protection order mental health adjudication or commitment.
• Unlawful use or addicted to a controlled substance (including marijuana).
• Dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.
• Renounced U.S. citizenship.
• Illegal alien.

Save the Hassle, Sell your Gun to Cash My Guns

If the hassle of navigating Illinois’ gun laws seems overwhelming, we’re excited to tell you that there’s a better way!

You can safely, easily and legally sell your handgun or long gun to Cash My Guns and be 100% compliant with Illinois gun laws.

We have a Federal Firearms Licensee, who is licensed by the U.S. Government to help people with selling and transferring of firearms. We take care of the hard part and make the process safe, quick and hassle-free. The reality is you can sell your gun without leaving the house.

Just tell us which gun(s) you’d like to sell, we’ll make you an offer, and once we agree on a price, you’ll mail us your gun(s) with all expenses paid by us. When we receive your gun(s), we get you paid with a check in your hand within a few days.

When you use Cash My Guns, you get the following unbeatable benefits!

Free gun appraisal  –  Fair price for your gun –  Free shipping

Easy shipment tracking throughout the whole process. Speedy payment!

Begin our safe and discrete process here.