State Legality Matrix / Suppressors / Illinois

Are Suppressors Legal in Illinois?

Statute-cited, last verified 2026-07-10

Banned

No. Possessing any device designed or intended to silence the report of a firearm is unlawful use of weapons.

Controlling law: 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6)

Litigation Status and Details

Ban remains in force in 2026. A federal challenge was rejected: the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois upheld the ban, holding suppressors are not arms under the Second Amendment.

Federal baseline

Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

Scope: Firearm suppressors (silencers) as defined by the NFA. Federal NFA compliance (Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, NICS, registration) is required everywhere they are legal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are suppressors legal in Illinois?

No. Possessing any device designed or intended to silence the report of a firearm is unlawful use of weapons. Controlling law: 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6).

What law covers suppressors in Illinois?

The controlling law is 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6). Possessing any device designed or intended to silence the report of a firearm is unlawful use of weapons.

Are suppressors legal under federal law?

Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

What Illinois Residents Can Still Buy

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