SB1963 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 10100 RLC 50280 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1963

Introduced 2/10/2011, by Sen. Dale E. Risinger

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
720 ILCS 5/24-2

Creates the Concealed Carry Permit Pilot Program Act. Establishes a 2 year pilot program based in the City of Peoria that allows the City to issue a permit to a resident of Peoria, who meets the qualifications provided in this Act, authorizing the resident to carry a concealed handgun within the boundaries of the City of Peoria. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning firearms.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Concealed Carry Permit Pilot Program Act.

Section 5. Concealed Carry Permit Pilot Program; general provisions.

(a) Purpose. The purposes of this Act are:

(1) To establish a 2 year pilot program based in the City of Peoria that allows the City to issue a permit to a resident of Peoria, who meets the qualifications provided in this Act, authorizing the resident to carry a concealed handgun within the boundaries of the City of Peoria;

(2) To gather data on operation of the pilot program; and

(3) To gather data on the crime rate within the City of Peoria before and during the period the concealed carry pilot program is in operation.

(b) Structure.

(1) There is established a pilot program based in the City of Peoria, known as the Concealed Carry Pilot Program or Pilot Program, to authorize the City of Peoria to issue a permit to a resident of Peoria, who meets the qualifications provided in this Act, authorizing the resident to carry a concealed handgun within the boundaries of the City of Peoria.

(2) The Pilot Program shall be administered by the City of Peoria in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"CCPD" means the Concealed Carry Program Director.

"City" means the City of Peoria unit of local government in Peoria, Illinois.

"Concealed Carry Permit Director" means the city official or city department designated through a city ordinance to administer the Pilot Program and to issue the concealed carry permits under the provisions of this Act.

"Concealed firearm" means a handgun carried on or about a person completely or mostly concealed from view of the public, or carried in a vehicle in such a way as it is concealed from view of the public.

"Handgun" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (h) of subsection (A) of Section 24-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961.

"Permit" means a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by the Concealed Carry Permit Director.

"Permittee" means a person who is issued a permit to carry a concealed firearm by the Concealed Carry Permit Director.

"Resident" means a person who maintains his or her domicile within the boundaries of the City of Peoria and has resided there for at least one year.

Section 15. Pilot Program authority. The City of Peoria may conduct a concealed firearm permit pilot program, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, within the City of Peoria commencing 120 days after the effective date of this Act and ending January 1, 2014. The City must authorize, by ordinance, a city official or city department to administer the pilot program and to issue the concealed carry permits pursuant to the provisions of this Act, to be known as the Concealed Carry Permit Director, hereinafter referred to as the "CCPD".

Section 20. Permit for concealed firearms. The Concealed Carry Permit Director is authorized to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to residents qualified as provided in this Act. Permits to carry concealed firearms shall be valid throughout the City of Peoria until January 1, 2014. Any resident in compliance with the terms of the permit may carry concealed firearms on or about his or her person. The permittee shall carry the permit at all times the permittee is carrying a concealed firearm and shall display the permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer.

Section 25. Application for permit and qualifications of applicants.

(a) A resident applying for a permit shall obtain the application from the CCPD. The completed application and all accompanying material plus the application fee shall be presented to the CCPD.

The CCPD shall evaluate the application and accompanying material, and within 30 days, the CCPD shall either issue or deny the permit.

(b) The CCPD, upon a resident's application for a concealed firearms permit, upon receipt of the appropriate fees, and after compliance with the procedures set out in this Section, shall issue the applicant a concealed firearms permit if the person:

(i) is at least 21 years of age;

(ii) resides within the City of Peoria and has been a resident for the last 12 months and is a permanent resident of the United States;

(iii) has a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card;

(iv) Has not been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, or of a misdemeanor evidencing violence, is not free on any form of bond or pretrial release for a felony or a misdemeanor evidencing violence, and has no outstanding warrants for those crimes;

(v) Has no record of mental disease or mental illness on file that would evidence incapacity, or lack of proper mental capacity;

(vi) Has not been committed to a state or federal facility for the abuse of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, or cannabis and has not been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or Cannabis Control Act or similar laws of any other state relating to controlled substances or cannabis within a 10 year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and

(vii) Does not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages as evidenced by the applicant having 2 or more convictions for violating Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance within 5 years preceding his or her application or the applicant having elected treatment under the supervision of a licensed program in accordance with the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act or similar laws of any other state within a 5 year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted.

Section 30. Contents of application. The application shall be in writing, under oath and under the penalties of perjury, on a form promulgated by the CCPD and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fees and required documentation. The application shall contain or require the following information:

(i) the applicant's name, address, gender, race, date and place of birth, and driver license or State identification card number;

(ii) an affirmation that the applicant is at least 21 years of age and that the applicant possesses a currently valid Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification Card, together with the card number and a photocopy of the Firearm Owner's Identification Card;

(iii) a full set of legible fingerprints of the applicant taken by any federal, State, county or municipal law enforcement agency. Any cost of fingerprinting shall be paid by the applicant;

(iv) a head and shoulder color photograph taken within 30 days preceding the date on which the application is submitted;

(v) questions to certify or demonstrate that the applicant has completed the firearms and deadly use of force training and education prerequisites specified under this Act and a photocopy of a certificate or other evidence of completion of a course to show compliance;

(vi) a statement that the applicant is a resident of the City of Peoria and has been a resident for the last 12 months and is a permanent resident of the United States;

(vii) a waiver of privacy and confidentiality rights and privileges enjoyed by the applicant under all federal and state laws governing justice, psychological, or psychiatric records, or access to records relating to the applicant's history of juvenile court, or criminal institutionalization, and an affirmative request that any person having custody of any such record provide it or information concerning it to the CCPD;

(viii) an affirmation that the applicant has never been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving the use or threat of physical force or violence to any person; and has never been adjudicated a delinquent minor for an offense which, had he or she been tried as an adult, would have been such a felony or misdemeanor. The application shall also contain the following statement along with a signature line for use by the applicant, which statement the applicant shall affirm under oath: "I, the undersigned, state, under oath and subject to the penalty of perjury, that I am not a streetgang member as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act, and I will not join or become associated with a criminal streetgang."; and

(ix) a conspicuous warning that false statements made by the applicant will result in prosecution for perjury in accordance with Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961.

Section 35. Fees. Fees collected under this Act shall be used exclusively by the CCPD and the City for administrating the provisions of this Act.

The City shall establish the fees provided for in this Act in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of administering the pilot program but not to exceed:

$100 for a permit.

$25 for a duplicate of a lost or destroyed permit.

$25 for a corrected permit due to change of address or name.

Section 40. Approval of application.

(a) If the CCPD finds that the applicant possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, meets the training requirements of this Act, and has provided the documentation and paid the fees required for issuance of a concealed firearms permit, and that, as nearly as it is possible to determine, nothing in the applicant's background or present circumstances disqualify him or her from possessing a firearm in Illinois, the CCPD shall approve the application and issue the applicant a wallet sized permit bearing the photograph, name, and address of the applicant within 30 days.

(b) The CCPD may consider an objection or recommendation made by the sheriff, State Police, or municipal police department supported by specific and articulable reasons, in a written report, why the applicant should be denied a permit and may deny the permit based solely on those objections. If the objection contains false, malicious or inaccurate information, the sheriff, State Police, or municipal police department filing the objection shall bear all of the applicant's costs if the applicant prevails in an appeal.

(c) If the applicant is found to be ineligible, the CCPD shall deny the application, and notify the applicant in writing, stating the grounds for denial and informing the applicant of the right to submit, within 30 days, any additional documentation relating to the grounds of the denial. Upon receiving any additional documentation, the CCPD shall reconsider his or her decision and inform the applicant within 30 days of the result of the reconsideration. Since this is a pilot program, the applicant shall not have the right to appeal the denial in the circuit court of his or her place of residence.

Section 45. Revocation or suspension of a permit. A permit issued under Section 40 shall be revoked if the permit holder becomes ineligible to be issued a permit under the criteria set forth in paragraph (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii) of Section 30 or subsection (b) of Section 40 of this Act.

When an order of protection is issued under Section 112A-14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or under Section 214 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 against a person holding a permit issued under this Act, the holder of the permit shall surrender the permit to the court or to the officer serving the order. The officer to whom the permit is surrendered shall forthwith transmit the permit to the court issuing the order. The permit shall be suspended until the order is terminated.

Section 50. Change of address, change of name, and lost or destroyed permits.

(a) Within 30 days after changing his or her permanent residence within the City of Peoria, and within 30 days after loss or destruction of a concealed firearms permit, the permittee shall notify the CCPD of the loss, destruction, change of name, or change of residence. Failure to notify the CCPD shall constitute a noncriminal violation with a penalty of $25 payable to the CCPD.

(b) If a person issued a permit to carry a concealed firearm changes residence within the City of Peoria, or changes his or her name, the person to whom the permit was issued may, upon payment of $25 and presentation of their current permit to the CCPD, obtain a corrected concealed firearms permit with a change of address or change of name upon furnishing a notarized statement to the CCPD that the permittee has changed residence or his or her name, and upon submission of an application as set forth in paragraph (i) of Section 30 and a photograph as set forth in paragraph (iv) of Section 30. A concealed firearms permit shall be automatically invalid after 30 days if the permittee has not notified the CCPD of a change of residence within the city. A permit corrected under this subsection shall be issued in 48 hours.

(c) If a permit to carry a concealed firearm is lost or destroyed, the permit shall be automatically invalid, and the person to whom the permit was issued may obtain a duplicate, upon payment of $25 to the CCPD and furnishing a notarized statement to the CCPD that the permit was lost or destroyed, and submission of an application as set forth in paragraph (i) of Section 30 and a photograph as set forth in paragraph (iv) of Section 30.

(d) A concealed firearms permit shall be automatically invalid if the permittee has moved his or her residence outside of the city.

Section 55. Listing.

(a) At least monthly, the CCPD shall transmit a listing of all individuals to whom the CCPD has issued or revoked a permit under this Act to the City Police Department. That listing shall contain the name, address, gender, race, date and place of birth, and driver license or State identification card number.

(b) The City Police Department shall maintain the listing of permit holders, and shall make available, upon request, at all times to any law enforcement agency.

Section 60. Privacy of permit holders and applicants. Except as provided in this Section, information on applications for permits, names and addresses, or other identifying information relating to permit holders shall be confidential, not subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, and shall not be made available except to law enforcement agencies.

No State or local law enforcement agency shall provide a list of names of any or all holders or applicants licensed to carry a concealed firearm, except that the CCPD may, upon proper application and the payment of the required fee, provide to the requester, in written form only, confirmation that an individual has or has not been issued, applied for, or denied a permit, or had a permit revoked under this Act. No identifying information other than the name shall be provided.

Only the CCPD may provide statistical information on:

(i) the number of permits or applicants issued or received;

(ii) the race, age, or gender of those issued permits or applicants;

(iii) the number of permits revoked and for what reason.

Requests for information about any permit holder or applicant made by persons other than a bona fide law enforcement agency shall be made in writing together with any fee regularly required for providing information.

Nothing in this Section shall prevent any law enforcement agency from releasing information about an individual as part of a criminal investigation.

The names of all persons, other than law enforcement agencies and peace officers, requesting information under this Section shall be public records. No other agency of government other than the CCPD or City Police Department shall provide any information to a requester not entitled to it by law.

Section 65. Concealed firearms permit.

(a) A concealed firearm permit shall authorize the resident in whose name the permit is issued to carry concealed firearms on or about his or her person or vehicle throughout the City of Peoria. No permit issued under this Section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed firearm into or upon:

(i) Any state or local police or sheriff's office or station without the consent of the chief law enforcement officer in charge of that office or station.

(ii) The facility of any adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, or jail.

(iii) Any courthouse occupied by the Circuit, Appellate, or Supreme Court or a courtroom of any of those courts, or court proceeding.

(iv) Any meeting of the governing body of a unit of local government.

The State, county or City may by rule or ordinance prohibit or limit the carrying of concealed firearms by permit holders in that portion of a building owned, leased or controlled by that unit of government. That portion of a building in which the carrying of concealed firearms is prohibited or limited shall be clearly identified by signs posted at the entrance to the restricted area. The rule or ordinance shall exempt any building used for public housing by private persons, firing ranges, and private dwellings owned, leased, or controlled by that unit of government from any restriction on the carrying or of possession of a firearm. The rule or ordinance shall not specify any criminal penalty for its violation but may specify that persons violating the rule or ordinance may be denied entrance to the building, ordered to leave the building and if employees of the unit of government, be subjected to disciplinary measures for violation of the provisions of the rule or ordinance.

(v) Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense beer or alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to that purpose.

This paragraph (v) does not apply to any bona fide restaurant open to the general public having dining facilities for at least 25 persons and that receives at least 50% of its gross annual income from the dining facilities by the sale of food.

(vi) Any area of an airport to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property.

(vii) Any place where the carrying of a firearm is prohibited by federal law.

(viii) Inside any elementary or secondary school facility.

(ix) Any portion of a building used as a child care facility. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the operator of a child care facility in a family home from owning or possessing a firearm or permit.

(x) Any gated area of an amusement park.

(xi) Any stadium, arena, or collegiate or professional sporting event.

(xii) A church or other place of religious worship.

A violation of this subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.

A concealed firearm permit does not authorize the concealed carrying or transportation of a stun gun, taser, or firearm other than a handgun.

(b) The owner, business or commercial lessee, manager of a private business enterprise, or any other organization, entity, or person may prohibit persons holding a permit for concealed firearms from carrying concealed firearms on the premises and may prohibit employees not authorized by the employer, holding a permit for concealed firearms from carrying concealed firearms on the property of the employer. If the building or the premises are open to the public, the employer of the business enterprise shall post signs on or about the premises if carrying a concealed firearm is prohibited. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises shall not be a criminal offense under this Act so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises. An employer may prohibit employees or other persons holding a permit for a concealed firearm from carrying a concealed firearm in vehicles owned by the employer. Carrying of a concealed firearm in a location specified in this subsection by a permit holder shall not be a criminal act under this Act but may subject the person to denial to the premises or removal from the premises.

(c) Any owner, business or commercial lessee, manager of a private business enterprise, or any other organization, entity, or person that prohibits persons holding a permit for concealed firearms from carrying concealed firearms on the premises shall be civilly liable for any injury from a criminal act committed upon a person holding a permit for carrying a concealed firearm who was prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm on the premises.

Section 70. Immunity of CCPD, employees, and agents. The office of the CCPD, or any employee or agent of the CCPD, shall not be liable for damages in any civil action arising from alleged wrongful or improper granting, denial, or failure to revoke permits issued under this Act. The office of the county sheriff, State Police, municipal police department, or any employee or agent thereof shall not be liable for submitting specific and articulable reasons why an applicant should be denied a permit, unless the objection contains false, malicious or inaccurate information. The Office filing the objection shall bear all of the applicant's costs if the applicant prevails in an appeal.

Section 75. Firearms training.

(a) Instructor certification. The CCPD shall certify instructors who have met the requirements of this Section.

(1) Persons who are not certified firearms instructors shall not teach applicant training courses.

(2) Persons who are not certified firearms instructors shall not advertise or otherwise represent courses they teach as qualifying their students to meet the requirements to receive a permit to carry concealed firearms under this Act.

(3) Persons who are not certified instructor trainers shall not teach instructor qualification courses.

(4) Persons wishing to become certified firearms instructors shall:

(i) be at least 21 years of age;

(ii) be a citizen of the United States; and

(iii) meet the requirements of subsection (b) of Section 5. Persons wishing to become instructor trainers, in addition to the other requirements of this subsection (4), shall:

(A) possess at least a high school diploma or GED certificate,

(B) have at least one of the following valid firearms instructor certifications:

(I) National Rifle Association Personal Protection Instructor;

(II) National Rifle Association Pistol Marksmanship Instructor;

(III) Certification from a firearms instructor's course offered by a State or federal governmental agency; or

(IV) A similar firearms instructor qualifying course, approved by the CCPD.

(5) (i) Instructor applicants shall agree to background checks.

(ii) An instructor applicant may be disqualified from becoming a certified instructor, or have his or her instructor qualification revoked if the applicant:

(A) does not meet the requirements of this Act to possess a concealed firearms permit;

(B) provides false or misleading information to the CCPD; or

(C) has had a prior instructor qualification revoked by the CCPD.

(6) The training course to certify firearms instructors and instructor trainers shall include:

(i) 16 hours of classroom instruction covering at least the following topics:

(A) By means of a videotape approved by the CCPD:

(1) the requirements for obtaining a concealed firearms permit in this State;

(2) laws relating to firearms as contained in the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, Article 24 of the Criminal Code of 1961, and 18 U.S.C. 921 through 930;

(3) laws relating to the justifiable use of force as contained in Article 7 of the Criminal Code of 1961;

(4) the conduct of applicant training courses;

(5) record-keeping requirements of this Act;

(6) the basic nomenclature of handguns;

(7) the basic principles of marksmanship; and

(8) the safe handling of handguns.

(B) A classroom demonstration, during which the instructor candidate shall receive instruction on and demonstrate competency in the ability to prepare and deliver a classroom presentation using materials from the applicant curriculum.

(C) Range instruction and firing of live ammunition, during which the instructor candidate shall receive instruction on and demonstrate competency in the ability to:

(i) handle and fire a handgun safely and accurately;

(ii) conduct a function test and safety inspection of common types of handguns;

(iii) clean common types of handguns; and

(iv) supervise and conduct live firing exercises in a safe and efficient manner.

(7) To qualify as a certified firearms instructor or instructor trainer, instructor candidates shall achieve:

(A) A minimum score of 70% on a written examination covering the material taught during the classroom portion of the course;

(B) A minimum score of 80% on range firing of a handgun from the standing position while aiming at a B-21 PC silhouette target or an equivalent as approved by the CCPD, with a minimum of:

(i) ten rounds from 7 yards; and

(ii) ten rounds from 15 yards; and

(iii) a score of "passing" from the course instructor for demonstrating competency in each of the following:

(1) Supervising and conducting live fire;

(2) Cleaning and inspecting handguns; and

(3) Preparing and delivering the classroom lecture.

(8) Instructor candidates who fail to meet the minimum requirements of subsection (7) of this Section may retake the examination, range work, or classroom demonstration one time without having to repeat the course.

(9) Qualified firearms instructor and instructor trainer certificates shall be valid until January 1, 2014.

(b) Firearms training program. A permit applicant must successfully complete a firearms and deadly use of force training and education program taught by a certified instructor. The firearms training program must be certified by the CCPD as meeting the following minimum requirements:

(1) Classroom instruction of at least 8 hours instruction on:

(i) Illinois laws that relate to weapons and the justifiable use of deadly force;

(ii) handgun use, proficiency, care, and safety;

(iii) nonviolent dispute resolution;

(iv) proper storage practices for handguns; and

(v) basic principles of marksmanship.

(2) Live target range firing exercises of sufficient duration for the student to fire their handgun:

(i) from a standing position;

(ii) for a minimum of 20 rounds;

(iii) at a B-21 silhouette target located at a distance of 7 yards from the student's standing position. Students shall provide their own safe, functional handgun and factory-loaded ammunition for all required range instruction. The certified instructor shall, prior to range instruction, inspect each student's handgun to ensure each is in sound mechanical condition and does not pose a safety hazard.

(3) At the conclusion of the classroom portion of the training course the certified instructor shall give each student a written examination not to exceed 100 questions that tests the knowledge of the student on the course subject matter. In administering the examination the instructor shall:

(i) not leave the room in which the examination is being given while the examination is in progress;

(ii) not allow students to communicate with or view other student's exam while the exam is in progress;

(iii) not grade the examinations in the presence of students; and

(iv) not divulge a student's numeric score on the day of the examination, but may indicate whether a student has passed or failed.

(4) Successful completion of the firearms training course requires at least 70% correct answers on the written examination and a grade of "passing" on the range exercises. A "passing" grade on range firing exercises requires the student to: comply with orders given by the instructor, safely handle their firearm, and achieve at least 50% hits on the silhouette portion of the target. Students who do not achieve at least 70% on the written exam may retake the exam one time without having to retake the course. Students who do not achieve a grade of "passing" on the range exercises may repeat the range work twice without having to retake the course.

(5) A student who successfully completes the firearms training course shall receive a certificate of completion signed by the instructor.

Section 80. Report. By October 1, 2013, the City shall submit a statistical report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, indicating the number of permits issued, revoked, suspended, denied and issued after appeal in the Pilot Program and also the number of permits currently valid. The report shall also include the number of arrests, convictions and types of crimes in the previous calendar year committed by individuals issued permits to carry a concealed firearm. The report shall also include the annual crime rate statistics by category of offense for the City during the period of the pilot program and the 2 years preceding the start of the pilot program.

Section 85. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by changing Section 24-2 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/24-2)

Sec. 24-2. Exemptions.

(a) Subsections 24-1(a)(3), 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(10), and 24-1(a)(13) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any of the following:

(1) Peace officers, and any person summoned by a peace officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace, while actually engaged in assisting such officer.

(2) Wardens, superintendents and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense, while in the performance of their official duty, or while commuting between their homes and places of employment.

(3) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard or the Reserve Officers Training Corps, while in the performance of their official duty.

(4) Special agents employed by a railroad or a public utility to perform police functions, and guards of armored car companies, while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their employment or commuting between their homes and places of employment; and watchmen while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their employment.

(5) Persons licensed as private security contractors, private detectives, or private alarm contractors, or employed by an agency certified by the Department of Professional Regulation, if their duties include the carrying of a weapon under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their employment or commuting between their homes and places of employment, provided that such commuting is accomplished within one hour from departure from home or place of employment, as the case may be. Persons exempted under this subdivision (a)(5) shall be required to have completed a course of study in firearms handling and training approved and supervised by the Department of Professional Regulation as prescribed by Section 28 of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, prior to becoming eligible for this exemption. The Department of Professional Regulation shall provide suitable documentation demonstrating the successful completion of the prescribed firearms training. Such documentation shall be carried at all times when such persons are in possession of a concealable weapon.

(6) Any person regularly employed in a commercial or industrial operation as a security guard for the protection of persons employed and private property related to such commercial or industrial operation, while actually engaged in the performance of his or her duty or traveling between sites or properties belonging to the employer, and who, as a security guard, is a member of a security force of at least 5 persons registered with the Department of Professional Regulation; provided that such security guard has successfully completed a course of study, approved by and supervised by the Department of Professional Regulation, consisting of not less than 40 hours of training that includes the theory of law enforcement, liability for acts, and the handling of weapons. A person shall be considered eligible for this exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours of training for a security officer and 20 hours of required firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the Department of Professional Regulation. Conditions for the renewal of firearm control cards issued under the provisions of this Section shall be the same as for those cards issued under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Such firearm control card shall be carried by the security guard at all times when he or she is in possession of a concealable weapon.

(7) Agents and investigators of the Illinois Legislative Investigating Commission authorized by the Commission to carry the weapons specified in subsections 24-1(a)(3) and 24-1(a)(4), while on duty in the course of any investigation for the Commission.

(8) Persons employed by a financial institution for the protection of other employees and property related to such financial institution, while actually engaged in the performance of their duties, commuting between their homes and places of employment, or traveling between sites or properties owned or operated by such financial institution, provided that any person so employed has successfully completed a course of study, approved by and supervised by the Department of Professional Regulation, consisting of not less than 40 hours of training which includes theory of law enforcement, liability for acts, and the handling of weapons. A person shall be considered to be eligible for this exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours of training for a security officer and 20 hours of required firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the Department of Professional Regulation. Conditions for renewal of firearm control cards issued under the provisions of this Section shall be the same as for those issued under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Such firearm control card shall be carried by the person so trained at all times when such person is in possession of a concealable weapon. For purposes of this subsection, "financial institution" means a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or company providing armored car services.

(9) Any person employed by an armored car company to drive an armored car, while actually engaged in the performance of his duties.

(10) Persons who have been classified as peace officers pursuant to the Peace Officer Fire Investigation Act.

(11) Investigators of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor authorized by the board of governors of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to carry weapons pursuant to Section 7.06 of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Act.

(12) Special investigators appointed by a State's Attorney under Section 3-9005 of the Counties Code.

(12.5) Probation officers while in the performance of their duties, or while commuting between their homes, places of employment or specific locations that are part of their assigned duties, with the consent of the chief judge of the circuit for which they are employed.

(13) Court Security Officers while in the performance of their official duties, or while commuting between their homes and places of employment, with the consent of the Sheriff.

(13.5) A person employed as an armed security guard at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons or development site or facility regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who has completed the background screening and training mandated by the rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(14) Manufacture, transportation, or sale of weapons to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through (13.5) of this subsection to possess those weapons.

(b) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any of the following:

(1) Members of any club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets upon established target ranges, whether public or private, and patrons of such ranges, while such members or patrons are using their firearms on those target ranges.

(2) Duly authorized military or civil organizations while parading, with the special permission of the Governor.

(3) Hunters, trappers or fishermen with a license or permit while engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing.

(4) Transportation of weapons that are broken down in a non-functioning state or are not immediately accessible.

(5) Carrying or possessing any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's permission.

(6) Carrying a concealed firearm by a permittee who has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm under the Concealed Carry Permit Pilot Program Act.

(c) Subsection 24-1(a)(7) does not apply to or affect any of the following:

(1) Peace officers while in performance of their official duties.

(2) Wardens, superintendents and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense.

(3) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while in the performance of their official duty.

(4) Manufacture, transportation, or sale of machine guns to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through (3) of this subsection to possess machine guns, if the machine guns are broken down in a non-functioning state or are not immediately accessible.

(5) Persons licensed under federal law to manufacture any weapon from which 8 or more shots or bullets can be discharged by a single function of the firing device, or ammunition for such weapons, and actually engaged in the business of manufacturing such weapons or ammunition, but only with respect to activities which are within the lawful scope of such business, such as the manufacture, transportation, or testing of such weapons or ammunition. This exemption does not authorize the general private possession of any weapon from which 8 or more shots or bullets can be discharged by a single function of the firing device, but only such possession and activities as are within the lawful scope of a licensed manufacturing business described in this paragraph.

During transportation, such weapons shall be broken down in a non-functioning state or not immediately accessible.

(6) The manufacture, transport, testing, delivery, transfer or sale, and all lawful commercial or experimental activities necessary thereto, of rifles, shotguns, and weapons made from rifles or shotguns, or ammunition for such rifles, shotguns or weapons, where engaged in by a person operating as a contractor or subcontractor pursuant to a contract or subcontract for the development and supply of such rifles, shotguns, weapons or ammunition to the United States government or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, when such activities are necessary and incident to fulfilling the terms of such contract.

The exemption granted under this subdivision (c)(6) shall also apply to any authorized agent of any such contractor or subcontractor who is operating within the scope of his employment, where such activities involving such weapon, weapons or ammunition are necessary and incident to fulfilling the terms of such contract.

During transportation, any such weapon shall be broken down in a non-functioning state, or not immediately accessible.

(d) Subsection 24-1(a)(1) does not apply to the purchase, possession or carrying of a black-jack or slung-shot by a peace officer.

(e) Subsection 24-1(a)(8) does not apply to any owner, manager or authorized employee of any place specified in that subsection nor to any law enforcement officer.

(f) Subsection 24-1(a)(4) and subsection 24-1(a)(10) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to members of any club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets upon established target ranges, whether public or private, while using their firearms on those target ranges.

(g) Subsections 24-1(a)(11) and 24-3.1(a)(6) do not apply to:

(1) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while in the performance of their official duty.

(2) Bonafide collectors of antique or surplus military ordinance.

(3) Laboratories having a department of forensic ballistics, or specializing in the development of ammunition or explosive ordinance.

(4) Commerce, preparation, assembly or possession of explosive bullets by manufacturers of ammunition licensed by the federal government, in connection with the supply of those organizations and persons exempted by subdivision (g)(1) of this Section, or like organizations and persons outside this State, or the transportation of explosive bullets to any organization or person exempted in this Section by a common carrier or by a vehicle owned or leased by an exempted manufacturer.

(g-5) Subsection 24-1(a)(6) does not apply to or affect persons licensed under federal law to manufacture any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm, firearms, or ammunition for those firearms equipped with those devices, and actually engaged in the business of manufacturing those devices, firearms, or ammunition, but only with respect to activities that are within the lawful scope of that business, such as the manufacture, transportation, or testing of those devices, firearms, or ammunition. This exemption does not authorize the general private possession of any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm, but only such possession and activities as are within the lawful scope of a licensed manufacturing business described in this subsection (g-5). During transportation, those devices shall be detached from any weapon or not immediately accessible.

(g-6) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any parole agent or parole supervisor who meets the qualifications and conditions prescribed in Section 3-14-1.5 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(g-10) Subsections 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(8), and 24-1(a)(10), and Sections 24-1.6 and 24-3.1 do not apply to an athlete's possession, transport on official Olympic and Paralympic transit systems established for athletes, or use of competition firearms sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the International Shooting Sport Federation, or USA Shooting in connection with such athlete's training for and participation in shooting competitions at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and sanctioned test events leading up to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(h) An information or indictment based upon a violation of any subsection of this Article need not negative any exemptions contained in this Article. The defendant shall have the burden of proving such an exemption.

(i) Nothing in this Article shall prohibit, apply to, or affect the transportation, carrying, or possession, of any pistol or revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm consigned to a common carrier operating under license of the State of Illinois or the federal government, where such transportation, carrying, or possession is incident to the lawful transportation in which such common carrier is engaged; and nothing in this Article shall prohibit, apply to, or affect the transportation, carrying, or possession of any pistol, revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm, not the subject of and regulated by subsection 24-1(a)(7) or subsection 24-2(c) of this Article, which is unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container, by the possessor of a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-613, eff. 9-11-07; 95-885, eff. 1-1-09; 96-7, eff. 4-3-09; 96-230, eff. 1-1-10; 96-742, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.