IL SB3527

Requires all firearms not in the owner's immediate possession or control to be unloaded and secured in a lock box or container accessible only to the owner or authorized users

Removes the current requirement that a violation only occurs when a minor under 14 gains access and causes death or great bodily harm

Eliminates existing exceptions for cases where a minor uses the firearm in lawful self-defense or obtains it through unlawful entry

Defines "immediate possession or control" as carried on the person or close enough to readily retrieve and use

First violation is a Class C misdemeanor with minimum $1,000 fine; subsequent violations are Class A misdemeanors; effective January 1, 2025