Reporting Lost & Stolen Guns In Illinois - Giffords

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Owner Responsibilities

Reporting Lost & Stolen Guns in Illinois View Policy Area Last updated October 29, 2025 .

Illinois law requires gun owners to notify law enforcement regarding the loss or theft of a firearm. A Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card holder who whose firearm is lost or stolen must generally report the loss or theft to their local law enforcement agency within 48 hours after discovering the loss or theft.1

This requirement does not apply if:2

• Failure to report is due to an act of God, act of war, or inability of a law enforcement agency to receive the report;

• The person is hospitalized, in a coma, or is otherwise seriously physically or mentally impaired as to prevent the person from reporting; or

• The person’s designee makes a report if the person is unable to make the report.

The relevant law enforcement agency must take a written report of the loss or theft and must, as soon as practical, but no later than 48 hours after receiving the report, enter the firearm’s serial number as stolen, and additional information from the report, into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS).3

In 2021, Illinois passed legislation4 that required the State Police to develop a publicly accessible internet-based system listing the serial numbers of firearms that have been reported stolen so people may check the system prior to the sale or transfer of a firearm to ensure the gun was not reported as stolen.5

Beginning January 1, 2027, both federally licensed dealers and private sellers of firearms will be required to check the internet-based system to ensure, prior to sale, that a firearm has not been reported stolen.6

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1. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-4.1(a).[↩]
2. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-4.1(c).[↩]
3. 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24-4.1(b).[↩]
4. 2021 IL HB 562.[↩]
5. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/3(a-25).[↩]
6. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/3(a)&(a-5).[↩]

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