Here is your weekly look at firearm news that matters to Illinois gun owners and concealed carry license holders. The biggest item this week: the U.S. Supreme Court has set a date to hear two AR-15 ban cases, one of which comes from Cook County. Anything that is only proposed or still pending is labeled that way below.
Illinois
- Supreme Court sets Cook County AR-15 case for argument. The Court scheduled Viramontes v. Cook County, combined with Grant v. Higgins (a Connecticut case), for one hour of argument on Wednesday, December 2, 2026 (Supreme Court argument calendar). The Court agreed to hear the cases this summer (JURIST). They ask whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect the AR-15 platform and similar semi-automatic rifles, and Viramontes concerns a Cook County ordinance (Guns.com). This is a pending court case, not a new law, and no decision has been issued.
- Background on the statewide law. On July 9, 2026, the Seventh Circuit ruled 2–1 in Barnett v. Raoul to uphold the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), reversing a lower court (Justia; Capitol News Illinois). That ruling is not new this week. The reports I read describe the Supreme Court cases as involving Cook County and Connecticut laws, not Illinois’ statewide PICA.
- Springfield and the Illinois State Police. I did not find any new Illinois firearm bills advancing or new Illinois State Police rule changes reported this week.
Federal
- Justice Department weighs in on the AR-15 cases. On September 4, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the challengers in Viramontes and Grant, arguing the Second Amendment protects firearms commonly possessed by law-abiding Americans for lawful purposes (Just the News).
- Carry permit fees. On September 16, the Justice Department announced a lawsuit against the city of San Jose, California, alleging that its carry license fee of nearly $1,600 is unconstitutional (Justice Department press release). This is the government’s allegation in a new lawsuit, and the court has not ruled.
- Out-of-state carry permits (pending petition). A truck driver with Florida and Georgia carry permits has asked the Supreme Court to decide whether states must honor other states’ permits. Minnesota does not recognize them, and the Eighth Circuit rejected his challenge in May 2026 (Johnson v. Jacobson, No. 26-255). The Court has not agreed to hear the case (Reason).
- Congress and ATF. I did not confirm any new ATF final rule or floor vote on a federal firearm bill this week.
Neighboring States
I did not find any reported changes this week to carry laws or reciprocity in Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, or Kentucky. If you plan to travel with a firearm, confirm the current rules with each state’s official agency before you go.
Self-Defense in the News
These are summaries of news reports. Reports are not legal findings, and the facts below are limited to what the outlets stated.
- Orland Park, Illinois (September 15). Around 9 a.m., a masked person displayed what appeared to be a handgun and tried to rob a customer who was pumping gas at a gas station near Harlem Avenue and 151st Street. Police said the customer holds an Illinois Concealed Carry License and fired at the person, who was taken to a hospital. The customer was not hurt. Police said he is cooperating with investigators, and no charging decision had been announced in the reports I read (NBC Chicago; ABC 7 Chicago; FOX 32 Chicago). Takeaway: Awareness at the gas pump matters, and so does what comes after: call 911, cooperate, and know what to expect during the investigation, all of which we cover in class.
- Mobile, Alabama (September 7, with a September 15 update). Shortly after 9 p.m., a man broke through a window of a home, and the homeowner fired, police said. The man died. Mobile police responded, and no charges had been filed as of the first report, with the district attorney’s office reviewing the case (FOX10). A September 15 follow-up reported that the district attorney’s office will present the case to a grand jury, with no timeline given, and that the homeowner’s wife called 911 as the break-in was under way (FOX10). The case is under review. Takeaway: Call 911 as early as you safely can, and remember that an incident inside your own home can still be reviewed, so understanding the legal aftermath is part of being prepared.
What This Means for You
I did not find anything reported this week that changes Illinois FOID or concealed carry requirements, so your current rules stay the same. The Supreme Court’s December 2 argument is worth watching, but a decision will come later, and until then the existing laws still apply. Keep your training current and check the Illinois State Police website for official updates.
Sources
- U.S. Supreme Court: December 2026 argument calendar
- JURIST: Supreme Court agrees to hear challenges to assault weapons bans
- Guns.com: Arguments in Supreme Court assault weapon ban case set for December
- Justia: Barnett v. Raoul, No. 24-3060 (7th Cir. July 9, 2026)
- Capitol News Illinois: Appeals court upholds Illinois’ ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines
- Just the News: Justice Department urges Supreme Court to strike down state and local AR-15 bans
- U.S. Department of Justice: Justice Department sues San Jose over $1,600 firearm permit fee
- Reason: A SCOTUS petition argues that the Second Amendment requires carry-permit reciprocity
- NBC Chicago: Concealed carry holder shoots suspected armed robber at suburban gas station
- ABC 7 Chicago: Orland Park gas station shooting
- FOX 32 Chicago: Concealed carry holder shoots suspect during attempted armed robbery in Orland Park
- FOX10 (Mobile): Homeowner shoots and kills man who broke through window
- FOX10 (Mobile): 911 calls detail moments homeowner shot intruder
This article is general information for education, not legal advice. Firearm laws change, so confirm current requirements with the Illinois State Police or a qualified attorney before you act.
Questions about carrying in Illinois or training? Contact us or see our courses.