The Illinois suppressor ban prohibits civilian possession of suppressors under state law, and that hasn’t changed — even as the federal picture has shifted dramatically. The $200 NFA tax stamp is gone. Federal courts have issued rulings favorable to suppressor owners. None of it makes suppressors legal in Illinois, where possession is a felony. This guide covers what state law actually says, what the penalties are, where the litigation stands, and what Illinois residents can lawfully do in the meantime.
Important Legal Disclaimer
This article is general information, not legal advice. We are not attorneys. Firearm law is changing rapidly at the federal level and the Illinois litigation is ongoing. Verify current statute and case status before acting on anything here, and consult a qualified attorney about your specific situation.
The Part That Hasn’t Changed
Illinois prohibits civilian possession of suppressors under 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6), and federal developments do not override that. A device that is legal to own federally can still be illegal to possess in your state.
This is the same principle that applies to Illinois’ assault weapon ban: state law defines its own categories and operates independently of federal classification. Do not assume a favorable federal ruling changes what you can lawfully possess in Illinois.
On this page
How We Researched This
We reviewed the Illinois statute, current reporting on federal legislation and litigation, and status updates from organizations tracking the Illinois case. Federal firearm litigation is moving quickly right now, and some of what follows could change on short notice — we’ve dated the volatile parts so you know what to re-check.
We are not attorneys and this is not legal advice. Where sources conflict or we couldn’t confirm something, we say so rather than picking the tidier answer.
What Illinois Law Actually Says
The Illinois suppressor ban comes from the state criminal code at 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6), which prohibits possession of any device or attachment designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm. It’s classified under unlawful use of weapons.
Two features make it comprehensive.
There is no civilian exception. The statute doesn’t carve out FOID holders, CCL holders, hunters, or competitive shooters. Federally licensed dealers and law enforcement operate under different provisions; ordinary civilians do not.
Federal approval doesn’t help. If you lawfully own a suppressor in another state with ATF approval, that approval does not authorize possession within Illinois. Federal law permits states to regulate more strictly, and Illinois does.
Suppressors are lawful for civilian possession under varying conditions in most states, but Illinois remains among the jurisdictions that prohibit civilian possession entirely.
Penalties Under Illinois Law
Suppressor Possession Is a Felony in Illinois
A violation of Illinois’ suppressor prohibition under 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6) is a Class 3 felony under the unlawful use of weapons statute.
Illinois law also provides enhanced penalties when certain weapons offenses occur in specified locations, so the circumstances of an alleged violation can materially affect exposure.
Because sentencing depends on the applicable statute and individual facts, anyone facing an actual charge should speak with an Illinois criminal-defense attorney rather than relying on a general summary — including this one.
This is worth stating plainly because a number of published summaries — including an earlier version of this guide — describe a first offense as a misdemeanor. That’s not what the statute provides for this particular subsection.
A felony conviction carries consequences well beyond the sentence itself: loss of firearm rights, employment and professional licensing difficulties, and potential immigration consequences for non-citizens. A weapons conviction also puts your FOID card at risk.
The Federal Picture Changed Substantially
This section carries the biggest updates, and it’s also the part most likely to shift again. Dates are included deliberately.
The $200 Tax Stamp Is Gone
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, reduced the federal transfer and making tax to $0 effective January 1, 2026 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons.
What did not change: suppressors remain NFA items. Form 4 or Form 1 still applies, along with the background check, fingerprints, and photographs, and approval is still required before you take possession. The financial barrier went away; the regulatory structure stayed.
The change is also narrower than some headlines suggest — machine guns and destructive devices still carry the $200 tax. It’s four categories, not the whole NFA.
Recent Federal Litigation
Two developments are worth understanding precisely, because both have been widely summarized in ways that overstate them.
June 2026 — United States v. Comeaux. The Fifth Circuit held that suppressors qualify as “Arms” under the Second Amendment, which is a significant constitutional holding. But the court still upheld Comeaux’s conviction for possessing an unregistered suppressor, concluding he had not shown that the NFA’s registration regime burdened his Second Amendment rights under controlling circuit precedent.
In other words: suppressors are arms, and the registration requirement survived. Those are two separate questions, and the court answered them differently.
August 5, 2026 — NFA registration ruling. A federal court granted summary judgment finding NFA registration unlawful as to the now-$0-tax items. The reasoning turned on enumerated powers rather than the Second Amendment: the Supreme Court upheld the NFA in 1937 as a revenue measure, and a tax producing no revenue arguably no longer supports registration as an aid to that purpose.
Read the Scope Carefully
The August ruling did not simply erase NFA registration nationwide. The court did not issue a nationwide injunction — the relief granted was tied to the plaintiffs and their affiliates. As of mid-August 2026 there were reports that the government would not appeal and that some parties covered by the relief had begun transfers.
What that means practically: the scope of the court’s relief matters enormously, the federal landscape remains unsettled, and this is not a general repeal that anyone can rely on. Check current status with a knowledgeable source before assuming anything about your own situation.
And regardless of how the federal question resolves, none of it touches Illinois’ state possession ban.
Where the Illinois Case Stands
Anderson v. Raoul was filed in the Southern District of Illinois on February 27, 2023, backed by the American Suppressor Association Foundation and Silencer Shop, arguing that Illinois’ ban violates the Second Amendment under the Bruen standard.
The Case Lost at the District Court
On September 5, 2025, the district court ruled in favor of Illinois, granting the State’s motion to dismiss and holding that suppressors are not “arms” receiving Second Amendment protection.
The plaintiffs disagreed with that reasoning and appealed. As of spring 2026, the case was pending before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
That’s a materially different posture than “awaiting a ruling.” If you’ve read older coverage framing this case as pending at the trial level, it has moved past that.
The plaintiffs’ central argument is that Bruen places the burden on the state to show a restriction is consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, and that a flat ban on a device widely legal elsewhere doesn’t meet that standard. The district court’s contrary reasoning — that suppressors aren’t “arms” because they didn’t exist at the founding — is what’s now on appeal.
Worth noting the tension with the Fifth Circuit’s Comeaux holding above, which reached the opposite conclusion on whether suppressors are arms. That disagreement is legally significant, although the Illinois case remains governed by Seventh Circuit precedent unless and until a higher court says otherwise.
Realistic expectations: federal constitutional litigation is slow. An appellate ruling could take considerable time, further appeals are possible, and outcomes are genuinely uncertain. Anyone making decisions based on an anticipated change should plan for a long timeline rather than an imminent one.
For current status, the organizations funding the litigation publish updates, and the Illinois State Rifle Association tracks Illinois firearm cases including this one.
What Illinois Residents Can Lawfully Do
Setting aside what might change, here’s what’s available now.
Hearing Protection That Works
The strongest argument for suppressors is hearing conservation, and there are effective alternatives that are entirely legal in Illinois. Quality electronic hearing protection amplifies conversation and range commands while cutting the report, and modern electronic muffs and in-ear systems are genuinely good.
Our roundup of the best shooting ear protection covers what actually protects hearing and what’s worth the money. If suppressors are off the table where you live, this is where that budget should go.
Quieter Ammunition and Platforms
Subsonic ammunition is meaningfully quieter than standard loads, particularly in .22 LR, and pairing subsonic ammo with good hearing protection gets you a noticeably more pleasant range session. Our guides to .22 LR ammunition and .22 LR rifles cover the quietest practical setups available without an NFA item.
Note that muzzle brakes and compensators reduce recoil but increase noise — they’re not a suppressor substitute, and at an indoor range they make things worse for everyone.
Shooting Suppressed in Legal States
For many Illinois residents, the practical way to experience suppressed shooting is through a range in a state where suppressors are legal. Suppressors are lawful under varying conditions in neighboring Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, though hunting and use rules vary — verify the current law of the state you’re visiting before traveling.
Possession within Illinois remains unlawful regardless of where a suppressor is registered, so any arrangement needs to keep the suppressor in the state where it’s legal.
If You Move to Illinois
If you own a suppressor lawfully in another state and relocate to Illinois, you cannot bring it. The practical options are transferring it to someone in a state where it’s legal, transferring it to a licensed dealer, or leaving it in a legal jurisdiction with someone authorized to possess it.
Resolve this before the move, and do it with an attorney or a knowledgeable NFA dealer rather than improvising. The transfer paperwork takes time.
Traveling Through Illinois With a Suppressor
This question comes up constantly and deserves a more careful answer than the usual flat “no.”
Federal law contains a safe-passage provision at 18 U.S.C. § 926A, part of the Firearm Owners Protection Act, which can protect a person transporting a firearm from a place where they may lawfully possess it to another such place, through a jurisdiction where possession would otherwise be restricted. Its conditions are specific — the firearm must be unloaded and not readily accessible from the passenger compartment, and the protection is generally understood to cover travel rather than stops and detours.
Whether It Reaches NFA Items Is Not Settled
Published sources disagree on how § 926A applies to suppressors and other NFA items. Some describe the provision as covering a lawfully registered suppressor transported between states where possession is legal. Others state that FOPA’s protection does not extend to NFA items, or condition it on paperwork requirements. We are not going to resolve that here, and we’d caution against anyone treating a contested federal argument as a plan.
The practical reality is separate from the legal question. Illinois prohibits possession, a violation is a felony, and asserting an untested federal defense at a traffic stop is a poor position to be in even if you would ultimately prevail. If your route would take a suppressor through Illinois, the conservative answer is to plan around it — and if that isn’t practical, get advice from an attorney familiar with NFA transport before you drive.
Our guide to transporting firearms in Illinois covers the broader in-state rules for ordinary firearms, which are considerably more permissive than the suppressor situation.
Common Misconceptions
“Suppressors Make Guns Movie-Quiet”
They don’t. Quality suppressors reduce report by a meaningful margin, enough to make a .22 LR pleasant and to bring many centerfire rifles closer to a level where hearing damage is less immediate — but most suppressed centerfire rifles remain loud enough that hearing protection is still advisable. The Hollywood version doesn’t exist.
“Suppressors Are Military or Police Equipment”
In the states where they’re legal, civilian ownership is common, and the primary use is hearing conservation. Several European countries treat suppressors as ordinary hunting equipment and in some cases encourage their use to reduce noise.
“Federal Legalization Means Illinois Has to Allow Them”
This one has become more common as federal news has moved, and it’s wrong. States can and do regulate more strictly than federal law. A federal ruling about NFA registration doesn’t reach a state possession statute — the Illinois ban would have to be struck down in its own case, which is what Anderson v. Raoul is about.
“The Fifth Circuit Said Suppressors Are Protected, So the Ban Is Dead”
The Fifth Circuit’s Comeaux decision held suppressors are “Arms” under the Second Amendment — and then affirmed the defendant’s conviction anyway. A holding that something is constitutionally protected doesn’t automatically invalidate every regulation touching it. It also doesn’t bind Illinois, which sits in the Seventh Circuit.
“Solvent Traps Are a Workaround”
They aren’t, and this is a genuinely bad idea. Solvent traps are marketed as cleaning devices but can potentially be converted, and federal authorities have treated many as suppressor precursors. In a state with a felony possession ban, the risk profile is worse still. Avoid them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are suppressors legal in Illinois?
No. Illinois prohibits civilian possession under 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6), with no exception for FOID or CCL holders. Federally licensed dealers and law enforcement operate under separate provisions. Suppressors are lawful under varying conditions in most states, but Illinois is among the jurisdictions that prohibit civilian possession.
What’s the penalty for possessing a suppressor in Illinois?
A violation of the suppressor prohibition under 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6) is a Class 3 felony under the unlawful use of weapons statute. Illinois also provides enhanced penalties for certain weapons offenses in specified locations, so circumstances matter. Some published summaries describe this as a misdemeanor — that’s not what the statute provides for this subsection. Anyone facing a charge should speak with an Illinois criminal-defense attorney.
The $200 tax stamp was eliminated — does that change anything in Illinois?
No. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced the federal transfer and making tax to $0 effective January 1, 2026 for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs. That’s a federal tax change. It doesn’t affect Illinois’ possession ban, and it doesn’t remove the NFA approval process — Form 4, background check, and approval still apply where suppressors are legal.
What happened to Anderson v. Raoul?
The district court ruled for Illinois on September 5, 2025, granting the State’s motion to dismiss and holding that suppressors are not “arms” protected by the Second Amendment. The plaintiffs appealed, and as of spring 2026 the case was pending at the Seventh Circuit. Older coverage describing it as awaiting a trial-court decision is out of date.
Federal courts ruled against NFA registration — are suppressors legal now?
Not in Illinois, and the federal picture is more limited than headlines suggest. The August 2026 ruling did not erase NFA registration nationwide — the court did not issue a nationwide injunction, and the relief granted was tied to the plaintiffs and their affiliates. Separately, the Fifth Circuit’s Comeaux decision held suppressors are protected arms while still upholding a conviction for unregistered possession. Neither touches a state possession ban. Verify current status before relying on any of it.
Can I drive through Illinois with a suppressor?
Federal law includes a safe-passage provision at 18 U.S.C. § 926A with specific conditions, but published sources disagree about whether and how it applies to NFA items like suppressors. Given that Illinois possession is a felony and the federal question is unsettled, the conservative answer is to route around Illinois. If that isn’t practical, consult an attorney familiar with NFA transport before traveling.
I’m moving to Illinois and own a suppressor. What do I do?
You cannot bring it. Options generally include transferring it to someone in a legal state, transferring it to a licensed dealer, or leaving it with an authorized possessor outside Illinois. Handle this before the move with an attorney or an NFA dealer — transfers take time.
Can Illinois ranges offer suppressors for customer use?
Private ranges generally cannot possess suppressors for customer use in Illinois. Federally licensed dealers and law enforcement operate under separate provisions, but that doesn’t translate into rental availability for civilians.
What can I use instead for hearing protection?
Quality electronic hearing protection is the practical answer, and it’s genuinely effective — modern electronic muffs and in-ear systems amplify speech while cutting the report. Subsonic ammunition helps too, particularly in .22 LR. Muzzle brakes do the opposite of what you want, increasing noise while reducing recoil.
Where can I check the current status of the Illinois case?
The American Suppressor Association publishes litigation updates, and the Illinois State Rifle Association tracks Illinois firearm cases. Given how quickly this area is moving, checking a current source beats relying on any article — including this one.
The Bottom Line
Illinois prohibits civilian suppressor possession as a felony, and nothing in the recent federal changes alters that. The tax stamp going to $0 and the federal rulings on NFA registration are real developments with real consequences in the states where suppressors are legal. In Illinois they change nothing about what you may lawfully possess.
Anderson v. Raoul is the case that could change Illinois law, and it lost at the district court in September 2025 before moving to the Seventh Circuit on appeal. That’s a longer road than the optimistic coverage from a few years ago suggested, and outcomes are uncertain.
In the meantime, the practical answer for Illinois shooters is quality hearing protection, quieter ammunition where it fits your shooting, and a trip to a range across a state line if you want to experience suppressed shooting. What isn’t worth doing is possessing a suppressor in Illinois on the theory that the law is about to change — it hasn’t, the exposure is a felony, and a conviction doesn’t get undone by a later ruling.
Continue Your Research
Authority reference: for federal treatment of suppressors under the National Firearms Act, see the ATF’s National Firearms Act definitions. The Illinois prohibition is at 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6), with the offense classification at 720 ILCS 5/24-1(b). For current status of the Illinois litigation, consult the organizations funding it and Illinois firearm rights organizations tracking state cases.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We are not attorneys. Federal firearm law and litigation are changing rapidly, and statements here reflect our reading of publicly available sources as of writing — several are subject to appeal and may be superseded on short notice. Statutory summaries are simplified; the controlling language is the statute itself, and penalty exposure depends on facts, enhancements, and charging decisions beyond the scope of this guide. The application of federal transport provisions to NFA items is described inconsistently across published sources and should not be relied on without legal advice. Federal developments do not alter state prohibitions. Always verify current federal, state, and local requirements before acting, and consult a qualified attorney regarding your circumstances.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links; if you purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability change — verify current details before purchasing.
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