Article Info
Illinois Transit Carry Ban Stands
| Scope | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Illinois |
| Impact | state |
| Key Entities | |
| Plaintiff-backing gun rights organization monitoring ongoing legislation and litigation | Illinois State Rifle Association |
| Declined to hear Schoenthal v. Raoul, leaving transit carry ban intact | U.S. Supreme Court |
| Attorney representing plaintiffs in Schoenthal v. Raoul | David Sigale |
| ISRA executive director | Richard Pearson |
| State legislature considering new handgun conversion ban | Illinois General Assembly |
| Legal Issues | |
| |
| What It Means | |
| |
| Timeline | |
| April 7, 2025 | U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Schoenthal v. Raoul |
| April 15, 2025 | Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day rally in Springfield |
Illinois Transit Carry Ban Stands
SCOTUS declines the case, leaving Illinois concealed carriers disarmed on buses and trains—and new handgun restrictions may be coming next
From The Boise Gun Club Handbook
Illinois gun owners lost their last legal option to carry on public transit this week, and now they're taking the fight to the statehouse.
Driving the news: The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear Schoenthal v. Raoul, the case challenging Illinois' prohibition on carrying concealed firearms on mass transit—even for valid permit holders. The Court's refusal to take it up leaves an appeals court ruling in place, and the Illinois State Rifle Association says the legal road on this specific challenge is now closed.
Catch up quick:
- A federal district court originally ruled the transit ban unconstitutional
- An appeals court reversed that, upholding the ban
- SCOTUS declined to intervene Monday, ending the case
The ISRA isn't done, just redirected. Richard Pearson with the ISRA is watching Wolford v. Lopez, a Hawaii case currently before the Court that touches on firearms in public spaces—including public transportation. If the Court takes that one up, it could crack the door back open.
"We are very disappointed by the Court's decision, especially since law-abiding public transportation riders in Illinois are less safe as a result of the law." — David Sigale, plaintiffs' attorney
State of play: While the courts sort themselves out, the Illinois General Assembly is moving toward the end of its spring session with at least one new restriction in play—a proposed ban on semi-automatic handguns that can be converted to fire fully automatic. The ISRA's Pearson argues the measure is poorly drafted and practically unenforceable, pointing out that almost any firearm can be machined into something it wasn't designed to be.
What's next: Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day lands Wednesday, April 15, in Springfield. Participants meet at 10 a.m. at the Bank of Springfield Center and march to the capitol for a rally. The ISRA has run this event every spring session since 2007. Details at ISRA.org.
The bottom line: Illinois gun owners are fighting on two fronts simultaneously—waiting on a long-shot Supreme Court case while trying to hold the line against new legislation in the statehouse. Neither fight is won.
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