Flying into Chicago Midway Airport then renting a car

[nemo2econ]

I'm scheduled to be flying into Chicago Midway airport, then will be renting a car and heading to the non-Chicago parts of Illinois, plus other states where I will be involved in shooting sports. My airline will, of course, allow the transport of a firearm in a locked hard case etc, under Federal law. So I expeect no problem getting into the airport.

But once I pick up my bag at the baggage claim in Chicago, assuming the firearm is still in the locked condition it was on the airplane (and remains so), can I transport it to the rental car agency, then drive out of Chicago environs and head to points south, without being in violation of the local Chicago rulz?

(BTW, I searched the FL Forums for "Chicago Midway airport" and could only find posts on O'Hare airport.)

[stormy36]

Looks good to me.

It might be a good idea to hang on to your airline tickets, rental car receipt, and any receipts from gas stations or hotels outside of Cook County.

From the Illinois State Police:

Non-residents must be legally eligible to possess
or acquire fi rearms and ammunition. Non residents
are not required to have an Illinois FOID Card. It is
recommended that in order to be in compliance with all
statutes, non-residents transport all fi rearms:
1. broken down in a non-functioning state; or
2. not immediately accessible; or
3. unloaded and enclosed in a case, fi rearm carrying
box, shipping box, or other container.

However...

Illinois’ Unlawful Use of Weapons law does not
preempt local ordinances from banning fi rearms.
Persons carrying or transporting fi rearms through
such communities could be subject to local fi rearm
ordinances. It is recommended that you contact local
authorities regarding their fi rearm ordinances.

http://www.isp.state.il.us/docs/1-154.pdf

From the Chicago Firearms Ordinance:

8-20-090 Interstate Transportation of Firearms.
It shall not be a violation of this chapter if a person transporting a firearm or ammunition while engaged in interstate travel is in compliance with 18 U.S.C.A. 926A. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any person within the city for more than 24 hours in not engaged in interstate travel, and is subject to the provisions of this chapter.

https://portal.chicagopolice.org/por...r-registry.pdf

[nemo2econ]

Thanks very much, Stormy.

Your ability to marshal that useful set of facts about my question, and then effectively communicate them, is MUCH appreciated!

Best,
Nemo

[Webleymkv]

Given the antipathy that Chicago seems to have for guns and gun owners, I think it would probably be wise to print copies of the above-mentioned ordinances and have them with you while traveling through the city. While you may be technically within the law, I would not count on any given CPD officer to know the law well enough to prevent problems that might put a very serious damper on your trip.

[Mike38]

Maybe in the future, check into landing at another airport? Quad Cities, Peoria, Springfield, etc.

[Patriot86]

Print it all and know it well and Don't expect Chicago Cops to know or care about the law.

A lawful FOID(Firearms Owner I.D. Card) holder and non Chicago resident was arrested earlier this year for UUW and not having a Chicago Firearms Permit.... The thing is he was legally transporting the weapon and a CFP is not required for non residents.....charges were dropped but I am sure it was a pain in the rear for the gun owner.

Every now and then even in the suburbs you have police arresting people because they do not understand the law in regards to lawfully transporting a firearm in Illinois.

[Jimboh247]

Another problem...Midway is not in the "best" part of Chicago. By far not the worst, but I'd high tail it out of that part of the city. Been there, lived there, and glad I don't live there any more.

[stormy36]

The area around midway is just fine. No need for fearmongering.

[Mike38]

The area around midway is just fine. No need for fearmongering.

Google "Crown Town near Midway Airport" and the 68,000 new gang members that have made residence there. Then tell me it’s safe around Midway.

[stormy36]

I've lived on the SW side for most of the last 3 years. I wouldn't recommend my sister walk around there at 3am, but telling someone to "high tail it out of that part of the city" is definitely fearmongering.

[Jen-from-IL]

The thread is about someone flying into Midway and just wanting to make sure he can legally transport his unloaded and cased firearm through the Chicago city limits. I would agree with what has already been said and have all the proof of your flight information, itinerary, rental car agreement, etc. Follow all traffic laws and you should have no concerns. Obviously if you get into an accident, then you can show the proof if required.

Have a safe trip.

[nemo2econ]

I did fly into, and a bit later, out of, Midway Airport. I had my firearm locked in a hard case from Life Jacket inside my soft-sided suitcase.

On arrival, I just picked up my suitcase from the baggage claim, transported via shuttle bus to the rental car center, got my rental car and immediately high-tailed it to the south end of Lake Michigan and on into Indiana and Michigan, leaving my firearm in the suitcase until I entered Indiana. No problems anywhere, and since both Indiana and Michigan have CWP reciprocity with my home state, I felt very comfortable once out of Illinois.

I was a bit more concerned about coming back into Illinois/Chicago/Midway and declaring a locked/cased firearm. But once again I had no problem other than the fact that the new-ish airline agent at the counter seemed unfamiliar with the process; she got help from another agent, I was soon on my way to the special TSA area for those declaring firearms. (that's a whole 'nuther story about "security theatre", but there was no problem getting it declared and checked through the TSA process.)

Overall, recommend allowing an additional ten minutes at check-in, at any airport, not just Midway. Cost no extra time at the baggage claim on landing, as expected.

Thanks everyone for offering your perspective and experiences!

[shaunpain]

The area around Midway is most decidedly NOT DANGEROUS in comparison to many other parts of the city. I know many people have transported guns through O'Hare and Midway, but once in a while someone gets nabbed for UUW when no laws were violated. This also happens in NYC. You're rolling the dice.

[maestro pistolero]

Sorry, what is UUW?

[Patriot86]

Unlawful Use of a Weapon

720 ILCS 5/24-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 24-1)
Sec. 24-1. Unlawful Use of Weapons.
(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when he knowingly:
(1) Sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses or

carries any bludgeon, black-jack, slung-shot, sand-club, sand-bag, metal knuckles or other knuckle weapon regardless of its composition, throwing star, or any knife, commonly referred to as a switchblade knife, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or a ballistic knife, which is a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil spring, elastic material or compressed gas; or
(2) Carries or possesses with intent to use the same

unlawfully against another, a dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto, broken bottle or other piece of glass, stun gun or taser or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument of like character; or
(3) Carries on or about his person or in any vehicle,

a tear gas gun projector or bomb or any object containing noxious liquid gas or substance, other than an object containing a non-lethal noxious liquid gas or substance designed solely for personal defense carried by a person 18 years of age or older; or
(4) Carries or possesses in any vehicle or concealed

on or about his person except when on his land or in his own abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's permission, any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm, except that this subsection (a) (4) does not apply to or affect transportation of weapons that meet one of the following conditions:
(i) are broken down in a non-functioning state; or
(ii) are not immediately accessible; or
(iii) are unloaded and enclosed in a case,

firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container by a person who has been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card; or
(5) Sets a spring gun; or
(6) Possesses any device or attachment of any kind

designed, used or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm; or
(7) Sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses or

carries:
(i) a machine gun, which shall be defined for the

purposes of this subsection as any weapon, which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manually reloading by a single function of the trigger, including the frame or receiver of any such weapon, or sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses, or carries any combination of parts designed or intended for use in converting any weapon into a machine gun, or any combination or parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person;
(ii) any rifle having one or more barrels less

than 16 inches in length or a shotgun having one or more barrels less than 18 inches in length or any weapon made from a rifle or shotgun, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if such a weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches; or
(iii) any bomb, bomb-shell, grenade, bottle or

other container containing an explosive substance of over one-quarter ounce for like purposes, such as, but not limited to, black powder bombs and Molotov cocktails or artillery projectiles; or
(8) Carries or possesses any firearm, stun gun or

taser or other deadly weapon in any place which is licensed to sell intoxicating beverages, or at any public gathering held pursuant to a license issued by any governmental body or any public gathering at which an admission is charged, excluding a place where a showing, demonstration or lecture involving the exhibition of unloaded firearms is conducted.
This subsection (a)(8) does not apply to any auction

or raffle of a firearm held pursuant to a license or permit issued by a governmental body, nor does it apply to persons engaged in firearm safety training courses; or
(9) Carries or possesses in a vehicle or on or about

his person any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or firearm or ballistic knife, when he is hooded, robed or masked in such manner as to conceal his identity; or
(10) Carries or possesses on or about his person,

upon any public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town, except when an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of the display of such weapon or the lawful commerce in weapons, or except when on his land or in his own abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's permission, any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm, except that this subsection (a) (10) does not apply to or affect transportation of weapons that meet one of the following conditions:
(i) are broken down in a non-functioning state; or
(ii) are not immediately accessible; or
(iii) are unloaded and enclosed in a case,

firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container by a person who has been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card.
A "stun gun or taser", as used in this paragraph (a)

means (i) any device which is powered by electrical charging units, such as, batteries, and which fires one or several barbs attached to a length of wire and which, upon hitting a human, can send out a current capable of disrupting the person's nervous system in such a manner as to render him incapable of normal functioning or (ii) any device which is powered by electrical charging units, such as batteries, and which, upon contact with a human or clothing worn by a human, can send out current capable of disrupting the person's nervous system in such a manner as to render him incapable of normal functioning; or
(11) Sells, manufactures or purchases any explosive

bullet. For purposes of this paragraph (a) "explosive bullet" means the projectile portion of an ammunition cartridge which contains or carries an explosive charge which will explode upon contact with the flesh of a human or an animal. "Cartridge" means a tubular metal case having a projectile affixed at the front thereof and a cap or primer at the rear end thereof, with the propellant contained in such tube between the projectile and the cap; or
(12) (Blank); or
(13) Carries or possesses on or about his or her

person while in a building occupied by a unit of government, a billy club, other weapon of like character, or other instrument of like character intended for use as a weapon. For the purposes of this Section, "billy club" means a short stick or club commonly carried by police officers which is either telescopic or constructed of a solid piece of wood or other man-made material.
(b) Sentence. A person convicted of a violation of subsection 24-1(a)(1) through (5), subsection 24-1(a)(10), subsection 24-1(a)(11), or subsection 24-1(a)(13) commits a Class A misdemeanor. A person convicted of a violation of subsection 24-1(a)(8) or 24-1(a)(9) commits a Class 4 felony; a person convicted of a violation of subsection 24-1(a)(6) or 24-1(a)(7)(ii) or (iii) commits a Class 3 felony. A person convicted of a violation of subsection 24-1(a)(7)(i) commits a Class 2 felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 3 years and not more than 7 years, unless the weapon is possessed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle as defined in Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or on the person, while the weapon is loaded, in which case it shall be a Class X felony. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of subsection 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(8), 24-1(a)(9), or 24-1(a)(10) commits a Class 3 felony. The possession of each weapon in violation of this Section constitutes a single and separate violation.
(c) Violations in specific places.
(1) A person who violates subsection 24-1(a)(6) or

24-1(a)(7) in any school, regardless of the time of day or the time of year, in residential property owned, operated or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development, in a public park, in a courthouse, on the real property comprising any school, regardless of the time of day or the time of year, on residential property owned, operated or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development, on the real property comprising any public park, on the real property comprising any courthouse, in any conveyance owned, leased or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school related activity, in any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a public transportation agency, or on any public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school, public park, courthouse, public transportation facility, or residential property owned, operated, or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development commits a Class 2 felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 3 years and not more than 7 years.
(1.5) A person who violates subsection 24-1(a)(4),

24-1(a)(9), or 24-1(a)(10) in any school, regardless of the time of day or the time of year, in residential property owned, operated, or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development, in a public park, in a courthouse, on the real property comprising any school, regardless of the time of day or the time of year, on residential property owned, operated, or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development, on the real property comprising any public park, on the real property comprising any courthouse, in any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school related activity, in any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a public transportation agency, or on any public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school, public park, courthouse, public transportation facility, or residential property owned, operated, or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development commits a Class 3 felony.
(2) A person who violates subsection 24-1(a)(1),

24-1(a)(2), or 24-1(a)(3) in any school, regardless of the time of day or the time of year, in residential property owned, operated or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development, in a public park, in a courthouse, on the real property comprising any school, regardless of the time of day or the time of year, on residential property owned, operated or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development, on the real property comprising any public park, on the real property comprising any courthouse, in any conveyance owned, leased or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school related activity, in any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a public transportation agency, or on any public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school, public park, courthouse, public transportation facility, or residential property owned, operated, or managed by a public housing agency or leased by a public housing agency as part of a scattered site or mixed-income development commits a Class 4 felony. "Courthouse" means any building that is used by the Circuit, Appellate, or Supreme Court of this State for the conduct of official business.
(3) Paragraphs (1), (1.5), and (2) of this subsection

(c) shall not apply to law enforcement officers or security officers of such school, college, or university or to students carrying or possessing firearms for use in training courses, parades, hunting, target shooting on school ranges, or otherwise with the consent of school authorities and which firearms are transported unloaded enclosed in a suitable case, box, or transportation package.
(4) For the purposes of this subsection (c), "school"

means any public or private elementary or secondary school, community college, college, or university.
(5) For the purposes of this subsection (c),

"public transportation agency" means a public or private agency that provides for the transportation or conveyance of persons by means available to the general public, except for transportation by automobiles not used for conveyance of the general public as passengers; and "public transportation facility" means a terminal or other place where one may obtain public transportation.
(d) The presence in an automobile other than a public omnibus of any weapon, instrument or substance referred to in subsection (a)(7) is prima facie evidence that it is in the possession of, and is being carried by, all persons occupying such automobile at the time such weapon, instrument or substance is found, except under the following circumstances: (i) if such weapon, instrument or instrumentality is found upon the person of one of the occupants therein; or (ii) if such weapon, instrument or substance is found in an automobile operated for hire by a duly licensed driver in the due, lawful and proper pursuit of his trade, then such presumption shall not apply to the driver.
(e) Exemptions. Crossbows, Common or Compound bows and Underwater Spearguns are exempted from the definition of ballistic knife as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-809, eff. 1-1-09; 95-885, eff. 1-1-09; 96-41, eff. 1-1-10; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09; 96-742, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

Basically carrying/using/improperly transporting anything that can be useful for self defense without a permit.

[johnelmore]

I go Amtrak seeing how the unfriendly states have treated firearms owners in the past.

I know Amtrak a little slower and more expensive but you will not be in jail at the end of the trip.

[jrwhitt]

Originally Posted by johnelmore

I go Amtrak seeing how the unfriendly states have treated firearms owners in the past.

I know Amtrak a little slower and more expensive but you will not be in jail at the end of the trip.

I believe Amtrack rules are even more restrictive than the Airlines.

http://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage

[+1k ammo]

I live on. North side but Midway looks like a new airport compared to few years ago before the renovation from a 50s style drive up. Even tore down some project housing nearby. I have no problems going there for 15 years.
Chicago police can be rough at times and correct to know the law because they are more concerned with making busts of gangs and drugs than anything else.
I have a foid card and would not even do what you did!