Chicago Trip + Firearms Carry Possibilities?

[Joniki]

I don't know if this has been addressed in this thread, but if you are flying into Chicago, declaring a firearm at IND is no problem, but I would expect a huge issue at ORD or MDW on the way back. Declare a firearm in Chicago? Lots of questions might be asked, many causing you to miss your flight.

Nope. No problem at all if you jump through the hoops.

 

[Sylvain]

The Cold Steel Tuff Lite could be a good option.

Now is it legally a 2" blade or a 2.5" blade.
I think some cities have a 2" limit so that would be important to know.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Do you know if the blade lenght limit only applies to concealed knives or if you can OC a big ass machete?

Concealed knives, but I wouldn't do that with CPD.

It is not America up there, mon ami.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Well, we just need to have Constitutional Carry!

That's not happening in Illinois. The Chicago combine owns the entire state.

This is akin to asking Mississippi or South Carolina to respect the rights of African-Americans without federal involvement.

 

[actaeon277]

That link takes me to bing home page. Any chance you can try it again?

As to what is legal in Chicago one should keep in mind that unless they are involved in some sort of an altercation with the cops, the odds of a cop frisking them is practically zero. If in a million to one long shot that you are frisked a cop has little interest in busting you for a knife or pepper spray.

I just spent 3 weeks on a jobsite on the 3rd floor of an industrial building on the west side. We heard gunshots almost every day. A couple of the guys observed a drive by shooting while inside our building on our last day there. It is rather disturbing to hear this stuff going around but I know that we are not the targets. I am concerned about stray bullets, one of our trucks took one to the windshield a few years ago. If you are not in a bad neighborhood the odds are very low that you will be accosted.

It's disturbing how the criminals/thugs can go around creating a warlike atmosphere, and the government does it's best to keep the law-abiding as sheep.

 

[Trigger Time]

Do you know if the blade lenght limit only applies to concealed knives or if you can OC a big ass machete?

Just carry a tomahawk

 

[Sylvain]

Just carry a tomahawk

As long as it's a Chicago legal one.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Take a cane for that high school knee injury that's acting up. Personally, I'd rather have a 36" club than a 2" knife. YMMV.

You'll also want some coins for soda machines and the like. Perhaps a handy leather coin purse and key ring: Foster Coin Sap

"Your honor, this jackwagon stabby-stabbed my innocent banger/robber of a client."

"Your honor, this jackwagon struck my mope of a client with a coin purse"

Which do you like the ring of better?

A few INGOers have seen my coin purse and have given themselves a gentle whack with it. They have not repeated the experiment.

 

[chezuki]

The Cold Steel Tuff Lite could be a good option.

Now is it legally a 2" blade or a 2.5" blade.
I think some cities have a 2" limit so that would be important to know.

Cold Steal is never the answer.

 

[Sylvain]

Take a cane for that high school knee injury that's acting up. Personally, I'd rather have a 36" club than a 2" knife. YMMV.

You'll also want some coins for soda machines and the like. Perhaps a handy leather coin purse and key ring: Foster Coin Sap

"Your honor, this jackwagon stabby-stabbed my innocent banger/robber of a client."

"Your honor, this jackwagon struck my mope of a client with a coin purse"

Which do you like the ring of better?

A few INGOers have seen my coin purse and have given themselves a gentle whack with it. They have not repeated the experiment.

A knife is a very convenient tool to have.It's not just a potential weapon.
I would want to carry a 2.5" blade in addition to a big cane.

 

[JTScribe]

So it's cool to have a weapon in your car with a valid LTCH, what happens if you check into a hotel?

 

[Sylvain]

Take a cane for that high school knee injury that's acting up. Personally, I'd rather have a 36" club than a 2" knife. YMMV.

You'll also want some coins for soda machines and the like. Perhaps a handy leather coin purse and key ring: Foster Coin Sap

"Your honor, this jackwagon stabby-stabbed my innocent banger/robber of a client."

"Your honor, this jackwagon struck my mope of a client with a coin purse"

Which do you like the ring of better?

A few INGOers have seen my coin purse and have given themselves a gentle whack with it. They have not repeated the experiment.

Do you use that sap thingy as your actual coin purse or is it loaded with coins and a dedicated self defense tool?

Would be bad if you needed to use it on a bad guy and you just spent all your change buying donuts.

 

[t-squared]

So it's cool to have a weapon in your car with a valid LTCH, what happens if you check into a hotel?

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/illinois.pdf

Page 11.....You're good to go unless it's prohibited locally.

To legally move it from your car to your room you have to case it unloaded. The loaded mag/s and any other ammo can be in that same case.

Your question is also answered here...http://www.gunssavelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TransportLegally.pdf

 

[jedi]

So it's cool to have a weapon in your car with a valid LTCH, what happens if you check into a hotel?

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/illinois.pdf

Page 11.....You're good to go unless it's prohibited locally.

To legally move it from your car to your room you have to case it unloaded. The loaded mag/s and any other ammo can be in that same case.

Your question is also answered here...http://www.gunssavelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TransportLegally.pdf

The vast majority of places in downtown Chicago, especially the hotels, have the "no firearm" sign on their doors. The signs in IL have the weight of law so basically 95% of all buildings in downtown Chicago are GFZ on the inside.

Now as for OP's question.
I drive to south Chicago, get on public transportation (ie. bus) and do a 45min ride to downtown M-F.
Kirk gave you the best advise. Leave the firearm at home.
You won't need it during the day in downtown. At night is a different story and my advise is after 6pm avoid downtown.
In terms of weapons think outside the box.

Metal pipe (ie. like if you do construction/plumbing) works well, it's material for your job site
Scissors (ie.barber pointy ones) work well, you love to scrap book just act gay
Baseball bat (cubs or white sox logo) work well, you are a baseball fan and want to get it autographs
Dumbbell in a cloth bag work well, you love to work out and need to take your weights with you

All of these no one bats an eye if you have and all work well in case you need them

 

[LP1]

Why all the Chicago bashing and paranoia on here? Thousands upon thousands of people visit there every day. It's a very safe place to visit if you use common sense, maintain situational awareness, travel with others, and avoid places that you probably wouldn't consider going to anyway.

And if the OP does choose to violate the law and carry in Chicago and gets caught, he's left a ton of evidence against him here in this thread.

 

[Denny347]

I am taking a business trip to Chicago (flying \ uber). I have an Indiana Carry License, and I realize there is no reciprocity. I do not have a non-resident license for Illinois. I'm wondering if I can get advice on how maximize my "force multiplier" here.

Tentatively I am planning on carrying a limited OC spray (I believe Illinois\Chicago legal) and have it checked at the airport. But I'd also like to check a compact handgun and bring it with me to Chicago. I realize that it might have to remain unloaded and made not easily accessible, but I'd rather have a-not-easy-to-access-pistol then none at all. So, I was wondering, can one backpack carry an unloaded firearm if its locked, with ammo stored in separate compartment? I realize this method of self-defense would only be minimally useful and really only in an active shooter context, but it would make me feel a bit better.

Any advice welcome! Thanks!

As mentioned already a knife is probably your best option, as long as you obey their stupid blade lenght law.

I have one entire magnet of Chicago knives near my dressing station.

Spyderco has some excellent options.

Knives are great but so many carry them without a spit of training. It is a tool like the pistol the OP is inquiring about. Learn how to fight because there are times where you will not be able to carry your preferred tools.
Remember

 

[Sylvain]

Why all the Chicago bashing and paranoia on here? Thousands upon thousands of people visit there every day. It's a very safe place to visit if you use common sense, maintain situational awareness, travel with others, and avoid places that you probably wouldn't consider going to anyway.

And if the OP does choose to violate the law and carry in Chicago and gets caught, he's left a ton of evidence against him here in this thread.

Maybe because there was over 700 homicides last year and the general public is not allowed to carry tools to defend themselves.

 

[jedi]

Maybe because there was over 700 homicides last year and the general public is not allowed to carry tools to defend themselves.

The vast majority of those deaths is gang related in the hoods NOT downtown. IT IS NOT THE WILD WEST IN DOWNTOWN.

 

[Sylvain]

The vast majority of those deaths is gang related in the hoods NOT downtown. IT IS NOT THE WILD WEST IN DOWNTOWN.

You have to go through the suburbs in order to go downtown though.
I've been there a few times.

 

[jedi]

Ive been going to chiraq for over 10 years now all of them on public transportation via the bad hoods.
In that time frame i have only see one shooting at a gas station, again gang members. That was a shooting in daylight hours.

I fear southern indiana's kkk and the jbts, police, more then chicago. Unless you are in the wrong parts of town at evening night the tuorist areas ok.