Is this forum dying or already dead?

[vito]

Ever since concealed carry was legalized in Illinois this forum has seemed to be diminishing in activity. Since the main goal of Illinois Carry (as I understand it) was to secure legal concealed carry, maybe many stopped thinking that they needed to check in on the forum. But more recently it seems clear that things have really slowed down. This is my third post in a few days, and very few comments have been added. Maybe I just started threads of little interest, or maybe fewer and fewer gun owners are checking in on the forum. Personally I have found this forum, and many of the sub forums, very valuable and a source of good information and advice, especially when waiting what seemed like forever to get my CCL renewed. I'm hoping that fellow gun owners here in Illinois see the value here, and try to come up with topics that will further our discussions and shared communications. 

[BobPistol]

I don't think this place is dead, not by a long shot, the community here is great. 

 

As long as there are totalitarians in state government in power - this forum will always have something to talk about. 

[davel501]

The search function should give you more than you need on your laser question. 

 

Apologies for our poor customer service. We will strive to improve in the future. 

[burningspear]

Vito, I am still here. The forum is still alive and well. No complaints here.

[John Q Public]

I get what you are saying... Before and during the transition to CC there was a lot more posts, but the forum is still current and relevant. A ton of what needed to be said has been and is searchable. We try and not remake the wheel, so the post count is down, but the relevancy still very high. 

 

Fear not, we are here and watching/waiting.

[MagSlap]

Not dead....

 

Personally? When I had to go back to the office, my time reading, and posts have dropped since.

When I was wfh, I had a monitor off to the side for other stuff.... Other stuff included IC with the memes....and getting into scraps with 'less than intelligent posts'.... 
I just dont have the time for that stuff anymore...

(Oh..today? wfh..but still too busy)

 

 

[vito]

On 3/13/2025 at 11:19 AM, davel501 said:

The search function should give you more than you need on your laser question. 

 

Apologies for our poor customer service. We will strive to improve in the future. 

 

 Just tried the search feature, trying "laser", "laser sights" and "Chicago laser sights illegal" and came up with NO hits on any of them. 

[davel501]

Chicago laser seems to work well. 

[mauserme]

On 3/13/2025 at 4:08 PM, vito said:

 

 Just tried the search feature, trying "laser", "laser sights" and "Chicago laser sights illegal" and came up with NO hits on any of them. 

 

In addition to Dave's suggestion, you can do a Google search on 

 

site:illinoiscarry.com Chicago & laser

 

and then use the search tools to limit the results to a specific time frame, if you want.

 

Or leave out the "Chicago &" if you want a broader set of matches.

 

 

[mauserme]

Lol try a google search on

 

site:illinoiscarry.com Chicago & laser & Vito

 

I've gotta say, this topic seems to weigh on your mind a lot.

 

 

[ScopeEye]

Some of us watch from the... Shadows! 

[TRussell]

I visit this forum at least once per day. I find it to be a great go to for info on the 2A world.

[Jeffrey]

We're like the Goonies!

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I don't think the forum is dying - for me, it is the single best "bang for the buck" for Illinois specific discussion on rules and upcoming legislation. There is a lot of serious and informative information here. For me, the only draw backs are that the search function just doesn't find much and there is a hesitation to discuss things that have been discussed before. 

 

Which always amazes me that folks hang on a discussion forum yet don't want/won't support discussion preferring to send folks asking questions to the search function. Which is, for me, hit or miss. Google seems to find me the answers I need. But the forum is very informative if one takes the time to read a lot and say a little less. IMO/YMMV.

 

VooDoo

[Smallbore]

Illinoiscarry has me hooked. I post but other poster have more to offer.

[John Q Public]

mauserme has a good point, it's a trick I have used for years on forums. You use a search engine and search the forum. They have much better tools to index and log a site. 

[Euler]

A serious limitation of the search function is that the site software (Invision) drops locked/aged-out topics from the index. You can use an Internet search engine on most forums here, but they won't work at all on Backroom or the Gear sub-forums that aren't accessible by anonymous users.

Invision used to do those things, but appears set not to do them anymore.

Meanwhile, probably most people are interested in overturning AWBs and kill zone laws, which are waiting games.

[davel501]

This one is the same post every few months.

"Are they illegal?"

"Yes, but just don't break the law"

"Laser sights are bad. Use iron sights." 

"Let other people make their own choices in gear" 

 

Every thread goes like that almost exactly in that order. 

 

I just did a quick search on the web to see what comes up. It's surprisingly easy to get an answer without getting mad at people for not answering a forum post quickly enough. 

 

 

[mauserme]

On 3/14/2025 at 4:32 PM, Euler said:

A serious limitation of the search function is that the site software (Invision) drops locked/aged-out topics from the index. You can use an Internet search engine on most forums here, but they won't work at all on Backroom or the Gear sub-forums that aren't accessible by anonymous users.

Invision used to do those things, but appears set not to do them anymore.

Meanwhile, probably most people are interested in overturning AWBs and kill zone laws, which are waiting games.

 

The old software (very old in our case) allowed a search of archived topics.  The current version eliminated that.  If it weren't for security problems with that version I'd almost prefer rolling back to it.

 

 

[lilguy]

The High Road, Shotgun World, AR15.com often direct folks here when Concealed Carry questions arise. Nothing wrong with IC, just nothing major happening at the moment.

[JTHunter]

Vito - you may be right about a bit less traffic here but there are multiple reasons.  For instance, for those still working (I'm retired) and especially those that had to go back to their offices, they may not have as much time to read and/or post.  At this time of the year, many of us are working on our taxes as well.  And you KNOW how time-consuming that can be!  Then there is the "spring green-up" where the yardwork starts.

IC is one of 4 forums I read and post in and I try to check on them every 2-3 days.  And there are days when I have little to say but that doesn't mean I haven't read others posts.  "Keep the faith" Vito.  We need members, readers, and good information and we get that here.

[GSDlady]

I don't post too much as I don't consider myself very knowledgeable about guns but I like reading about what others say.  When I do comment it's usually on non-gun topics.  I check the forum at least once a day to see new posts and always file witness slips when the alerts go out.