The “Protect Illinois Communities Act” (Public Act 102-116) has now become a law in the state of Illinois, but what does this mean for Illinois residents? 

According to isp.illinois.gov, it is now prohibited to own, sell, and purchase assault weapons, like the AK-47 and AR-15. However, it is also stated in isp.illinois.gov that if an individual had purchased one of these firearms before Jan. 1st 2024, that they are permitted to keep it as long as it has proper registration. 

In order to register a gun, the owner of the firearm must fill out an online form and provide an email address, ID, and a FOID card (if applicable). If someone is found with an unregistered assault weapon, they will be charged with a class A misdemeanor, for which the penalty can be a large sum of money or up to a year in jail.

Despite all of this, it is stated in Public Act 102-116 that the Illinois police department has the authority to deny someone of the application if they are deemed unsuitable to carry the firearm.

However, this is only applicable to a certain demographic. An example would be people under the legal drinking age who have been charged with misdemeanor. Many gun owners feel conflicted, with some saying that having to fill out the form is too tedious of a task, while others believe that it will play an important role in keeping communities safe.