No FOID needed for ANY .177 cal AG

[captain hobo]

I recently bought a Crosman 2100 at a local Walmart in Chicago suburb area. They had a decent selection that surprised me as things are turning anti-gun in these areas. The box for the Crosman said 800fps, and they didn't ask for FOID Card. As the the guy rang up on the register, I saw that it asked if the buyer was 18 years old. He didn't ask for an ID, as I am in my 50's. He joked a bit about shooting squirrels, but that is not what I do. Just aluminum cans. My dog keeps the squirrels away!

The point of my post is that the gun is .177 cal and 800 fps and no FOID required at Walmart.

[james]

Illinois shooters can now buy any fps .177-cal. airguns...no FOID!
Public Act 097-0776 has just passed the IL state legislature, and they no longer care how fast your gun goes (as long as it's .18 cal. or smaller).

Previously any caliber AG 700 fps or over needed a FOID card. I think .22 cal AG still needs a FOID.-- WOO HOO! I used to live in Illinois.Congratulations on your victory(I mean all Illinois shooters)I still have my old FOID. ---I use my modified daisy buck for cans.(NO more power but a improvised peep /ghostring rear sight and yellow front blade witha Red ryder stock.

[james]

It looks to me that all local sporting goods stores (OK, except Dick's, that doesn't have my BlackHawk) are managed by stubborn guys that don't know how to read! Even a specialized gun shop manager read the new law today in front of me three times and did not understand it (or did not want to understand it)... Feel my pain? I just might order from the internet ...

---He is covering his butt. The postmaster here in my town insisted I had to have a  red ryder ,shipped from my former state sent to a licensed firearm dealer as it could be easily converted to a firearm.At least that is what he believes. He  also is covering his butt. Let us face facts Illinois like a both Chicago baseball teams creates a vaccum.( but at least the SOX won the World series in 2005)Chicago has a lot of pull in Illinois and it has a very antigun Mayor in Rahm Emmanuel who will fight liberalization of Illinois gun laws tooth and nail.I do not hesitate to call him elitist.

[Gipper]

Actually you can legally buy ANY air weapon with a max velocity of 700fps.  If the caliber is larger that .18 it cannot exceed 700fps.  Smaller than .18 no longer has any speed restrictions.  Seems kind of weird though as I cannot legally buy a .22 that shoots at 900fps BUT I can buy a .50 cal that shoots 680fps!! (Dragon Claw)

Here is the text from the legislation that defines what a "Firearm" is and is NOT.

"Firearm" means any device, by whatever name known, which
is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action
of an explosion, expansion of gas or escape of gas; excluding,
however:
 
(1) any pneumatic gun, spring gun, paint ball gun, or
    B-B gun which expels a single globular projectile
    not exceeding .18 inch in diameter or which has a
    maximum muzzle velocity of less than 700 feet per second;

 The big change is it used to say it could not exceed .18 inch in diameter or exceed 700 feet per second. If it did either it was considered a firearm.

Gipper (FOIDLESS in Illinois)

[Tater]

Actually you can legally buy ANY air weapon with a max velocity of 700fps.  If the caliber is larger that .18 it cannot exceed 700fps.  Smaller than .18 no longer has any speed restrictions.  Seems kind of weird though as I cannot legally buy a .22 that shoots at 900fps BUT I can buy a .50 cal that shoots 680fps!! (Dragon Claw)

Here is the text from the legislation that defines what a "Firearm" is and is NOT.

"Firearm" means any device, by whatever name known, which
is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action
of an explosion, expansion of gas or escape of gas; excluding,
however:
 
(1) any pneumatic gun, spring gun, paint ball gun, or
    B-B gun which expels a single globular projectile
    not exceeding .18 inch in diameter or which has a
    maximum muzzle velocity of less than 700 feet per second;

The big change is it used to say it could not exceed .18 inch in diameter or exceed 700 feet per second. If it did either it was considered a firearm.

Gipper (FOIDLESS in Illinois)

I don't see the difference between to two bold parts.   

[Gipper]

Sorry if how I posted it caused any confusion.  The old law basically said any air rifle:
That was larger than .18 in caliber and/or exceeded 700fps was considered a firearm.
So basically you were rerstricted to .177 guns with a max velocity of 700fps

The new law says that to be considered a firearm:
The rifle must be larger than .18 in caliber and exceed 700fps.
So now .177 caliber guns no longer have ANY fps limits,  but larger than that is restricted to 700fps.

Now the CITY of CHICAGO may have additional restrictions,  I do not know.

I hope that is clearer.

Gipper

[mobilemail]

I had considered that. But here in the state of "whatever is not specifically allowed is automatically illegal", I would not want to become the test case. I think the whole regulation of airguns thing defies common sense, even big bore. What are you going to do, go psycho and pull off three quick shots before a refill? Be the guy who wants to be a target by wearing a large pressurized cylinder on his back?

I will stop right there and refrain from further comments on this line, I don't want to burn your thread down. :-)

[Tater]

Thanks Gipper. Your post wasn't confusing, the goofy laws here are.

Totally agree Mark, I'll have to bite my tongue too or it would be an epic rant.

[mobilemail]

Speaking of .177, I need to go downstairs and make some holes for the GTA 10m online match!!

[dixonsnyder]

It's illinois. Would anything make sense coming out of Springfield? Just bring your lawyer and a couple of Supreme Court justices with you when you want to buy an AG.

[Neuespitz]

Sad commentary on Illinois law and lawmakers.   😒

[mobilemail]

A current bill in IL Senate, SB2583, would remove airguns from the FOID list entirely, they would no longer be considered firearms. I got a call from Senator McCanns lawyer yesterday. He is going to clarify some wording in the bill so it can be submitted to proceed. It is currently sitting in judiciary committee.

[mobilemail]

Oops, double post

[Tater]

Oops, double post

It's such exciting news it was worth posting twice.

[archellas]

Ok, I reread the ACT and saw the crossed out lines, and read most of the posts again, and I still don't get the negations ..... just stupid me ... still trying to figure it out.

[JayV21]

Going to keep my fingers crossed. We realy need this.

[Taso1000]

TJ,

The last wording is that any .177 caliber air rifle will always be considered an air rifle even if it shoots 4000 fps.

Any caliber air rifle above .177 and shoots faster than 700 fps is considered a firearm. 

So basically if you could figure out how to shoot a bowling ball with an air rifle at 699 fps it would be considered an air rifle. A .22 air rifle shooting at 701 fps is considered a firearm.

So then comes the interpretations by law enforcement etc.  Many municipalities don't allow discharging firearms withing their boundaries.  would they charge you with discharging that .22, 701 fps air rifle as a firearm?  If you had an ldc on that .22 would it now be considered a firearm with a silencer that falls under NFA laws?

It then becomes tricky and up to interpretation by law enforcement.  I would err on the side of caution and not put myself in that situation.

There is new legislation trying to be passed where all air powered rifles and hand guns are exempt from firearm laws.  It is still in the early stages.

Taso

[archellas]

TJ,
So basically if you could figure out how to shoot a bowling ball with an air rifle at 699 fps it would be considered an air rifle. .
Taso

Taso,
Let's get specific with wording here .....you said: "shoot a bowling ball with an air rifle" ..... rather you mean: "shoot a bowling ball with AIR" as long as it is UNDER 700fps, it is OK??

I'm getting a bowling ball tomorrow, new project in the works !!!!!!! LOL 

Kali anastasi!

Cheers

[mobilemail]

TJ,

The last wording is that any .177 caliber air rifle will always be considered an air rifle even if it shoots 4000 fps.

Any caliber air rifle above .177 and shoots faster than 700 fps is considered a firearm. 

So basically if you could figure out how to shoot a bowling ball with an air rifle at 699 fps it would be considered an air rifle. A .22 air rifle shooting at 701 fps is considered a firearm.

So then comes the interpretations by law enforcement etc.  Many municipalities don't allow discharging firearms withing their boundaries.  would they charge you with discharging that .22, 701 fps air rifle as a firearm?  If you had an ldc on that .22 would it now be considered a firearm with a silencer that falls under NFA laws?

It then becomes tricky and up to interpretation by law enforcement.  I would err on the side of caution and not put myself in that situation.

There is new legislation trying to be passed where all air powered rifles and hand guns are exempt from firearm laws.  It is still in the early stages.

Taso

A lot of jurisdictions also have ordinances specifically banning the use of airguns in city limits.  Check local laws before engaging the bowling ball accelerator!!

[Taso1000]

TJ,
So basically if you could figure out how to shoot a bowling ball with an air rifle at 699 fps it would be considered an air rifle. .
Taso

Taso,
Let's get specific with wording here .....you said: "shoot a bowling ball with an air rifle" ..... rather you mean: "shoot a bowling ball with AIR" as long as it is UNDER 700fps, it is OK??

I'm getting a bowling ball tomorrow, new project in the works !!!!!!! LOL 

Kali anastasi!

Cheers

Ruh Roh TJ!!!  Watch out North Side squirrels!     You're gonna need a rifled barrel to get some accuracy out of your bowling balls.  Accuracy over power TJ!  Plus you don't want to be aiming at a squirrel brain and hit your neighbors car instead.  That wouldn't be good!   

Eπίσης!

Taso