Any Downside to getting a CCW

[Dan The Man]

I had someone ask me if there is a downside to getting your concealed carry. He gave the example that if you get a commercial drivers license to driver truck the downside is DUI is now .04 BAC not .08. I was not sure how to answer him. Does anybody know of any downside?

[Smallbore]

On 2/13/2026 at 12:35 PM, Dan The Man said:

I had someone ask me if there is a downside to getting your concealed carry. He gave the example that if you get a commercial drivers license to driver truck the downside is DUI is now .04 BAC not .08. I was not sure how to answer him. Does anybody know of any downside?

Pretty sure .04 is true for all commercial drivers.

[billzfx4]

It's only .04 while operating a commercial vehicle. 

In your personal vehicle,  .08 like everybody else. 

Edited February 13, 2026 at 09:25 PM by billzfx4

[billzfx4]

To the original question. Other than the time and money involved to exercise a constitutional right,  I really can't see a downside. 

[Quiet Observer]

Getting a DUI does not automatically revoke a CCL. Multiple ones might. I do not know if Illinois checks the records for a CCL if someone is arrested for DUI or if a CCL has been revoked on this basis. If someone is concerned about getting multiple DUIs, maybe they should evaluate their drinking habits. 

 

(430 ILCS 66/25) 
    Sec. 25. Qualifications for a license.       

The Illinois State Police shall issue a license to an applicant completing an application in accordance with Section 30 of this Act if the person:        

(1)  is at least 21 years of age;        

(2) has a currently valid Firearm Owner's     Identification Card and at the time of application meets the requirements for the issuance of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card and is not prohibited under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or federal law from possessing or receiving a firearm;        

(3)   has not been convicted or found guilty in this     State or in any other state of:

            (A) a misdemeanor involving the use or threat of physical force or violence to any person within the 5 years preceding the date of the license application; or 

           (B) 2  or more violations related to driving  while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof, within the 5 years preceding the date of the license application;

 

"Sec. 70. Violations. (a)   A license issued or renewed under this Act shall be revoked if, at any time, the licensee is found to be ineligible for a license under this Act or the licensee no longer meets the eligibility requirements of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act." 

 

 

[Euler]

In Illinois, the third DUI conviction within a 5-year horizon is a felony. That would stop you from getting a CCL or revoke one if you had it, because felon prohibition is felon prohibition.

In many other states, the third DUI conviction ever (no horizon) is a felony.

[Smallbore]

I do not think it is unreasonable for anyone operating equipment to have a clear mind. That included vehicles and guns.

[John Q Public]

It's also stated directly in the CCL law that one DUI, or controlled substance, or combination, is a fine. The second is a fine and up to 6 months suspension, and a third is a felony with termination of all CCL rights, which would also take your FOID and the right to vote... 

[Dan The Man]

Does the punishment change for a DUI if you have a ccl? Is there a down side to a ccl?  Is there any punishments that increase because you have a ccl?

[soundguy]

On 2/15/2026 at 9:56 PM, Dan The Man said:

Does the punishment change for a DUI if you have a ccl? Is there a down side to a ccl?  Is there any punishments that increase because you have a ccl?

 

I am fairly certain the answer is no.

 

A DUI is completely controllable for any person.

If you feel you might be impaired, do not drive.

If you must drive, do not imbibe.

It's pretty simple to be responsible.

 

Cheers,

Tim

[John Q Public]

On 2/15/2026 at 9:56 PM, Dan The Man said:

Does the punishment change for a DUI if you have a ccl? Is there a down side to a ccl?  Is there any punishments that increase because you have a ccl?

Dan, yes it could indeed, if the Judge ordered treatment for substance abuse, or head issues, it would invalidate the FOID, so without the FOID, yup, the CCL would go away too. This even though the CCL law would not be prohibitive in some of those circumstances. 

 

Like this: I am ordered to undergo drug treatment by the court. FOID gone.

I am ordered to undergo alcohol treatment, or any combination. FOID Gone. 

I get a DUI and am not ordered by the judge to undergo treatment. FOID retained etc.

 

The catch, if you don't have a FOID, or can not get one, by CCL law, you will forfeit the CCL.

 

How is this in conflict with CCL law. A DUI does not invalidate your CCL, but if the judge orders treatment, it invalidates your FOID, which in term prohibits you from possessing a CCL, same for other prohibitions. 

 

J 

 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2026 at 06:52 PM by John Q Public

[Dan The Man]

I have so far I found zero negative things about only concealed carry license

[Dan The Man]

Does anyone know exactly what is shown to the officer when they run your plates or name if you have a ccl?

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 6/3/2026 at 7:53 PM, Dan The Man said:

Does anyone know exactly what is shown to the officer when they run your plates or name if you have a ccl?

Just the status of your foid and ccl. 

Active,expired,revolved?

[RandyP]

Only downsides are the (IMHO) unconstitutional costs and training/retraining nonsense. My Hoosier brother has had his Lifetime CCL for quite a while with ZERO mandatory classes. I don't believe Hoosiers are more law-abiding than Illinoisans. No dopey waiting periods for firearms either.

[sctman800]

On 6/4/2026 at 7:54 AM, RandyP said:

Only downsides are the (IMHO) unconstitutional costs and training/retraining nonsense. My Hoosier brother has had his Lifetime CCL for quite a while with ZERO mandatory classes. I don't believe Hoosiers are more law-abiding than Illinoisans. No dopey waiting periods for firearms either.

   I got my lifetime also right after I move to Indiana in March of 2020, can't remember what the cost was but I think around $100.00.  Now the lifetime or 5 year are the same cost, you only pay for the fingerprints which must be done at a state approved facility.  The standard price IIRC is $13.00, yes that is correct $13.00.  Of course you only need to have the license if you go out of state because Indiana also has Constitutional Carry which includes out of state visitors.  Indiana has to my knowledge never had a training requirement.   Jim.

[Jeffrey]

Only downside I've found is having to pay to exercise my rights.  Still searching for another similar.

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 6/4/2026 at 8:12 AM, Jeffrey said:

Only downside I've found is having to pay to exercise my rights.  Still searching for another similar.

repeatedly pay, they expire.

[John Q Public]

What others have said about class/permit $$.... Something else which needs to be addressed is this state absolutely hates you owning, or carry firearms, they will go after you more so than the criminals. You absolutely should get liability insurance, for firearms that covers both civil and criminal. Also, make sure they pay upfront, and do not have a claw back, where should they choose, they can recoup monies if you are convicted. Do you own research, if I mention some I don't like there will be fur flying, so do your own diligence. There is a thread on it here somewhere.....

 

No your homeowners does not cover you even in your own home. If you were cleaning it had had a brain fart they might cover that, but not acts of self defense. CYA

 

EDIT: There's one other point I'd like to make, if you don't carry all the time, then think hard. I hear from students, I only carry when I go, or I feel... nope, if that is what you are thinking don't bother. If you want to have it just to have it, that's cool too. Here's the deal, a ton of people think they need one at home, or at work....  If you own the property, you do not need a permit to carry a loaded, or unloaded firearm, either concealed, or open carry. Yes, I can carry open on my own property, or anyone's with their permission. Just an FYI for some of you that may not know this. There are other times as well.... say you are traveling in IL and you book a hotel, without a CCL it can't be loaded in the vehicle, for Il resident, you can FOID carry it to your hotel room and load it up when in the room. It's rather fobar that someone from another state, with a ccl, or even without a permit, and no disqualifiers can have a loaded firearm in the car, but an if you live in the state of Il you can not do the same without a permit. Lovely state.... Not.

 

JQ

 

 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2026 at 05:55 PM by John Q Public

[Jeffrey]

On 6/4/2026 at 12:44 PM, John Q Public said:

What others have said about class/permit $$.... Something else which needs to be addressed is this state absolutely hates you owning, or carry firearms, they will go after you more so than the criminals. You absolutely should get liability insurance, for firearms that covers both civil and criminal. Also, make sure they pay upfront, and do not have a claw back, where should they choose, they can recoup monies if you are convicted. Do you own research, if I mention some I don't like there will be fur flying, so do your own diligence. There is a thread on it here somewhere.....

 

No your homeowners does not cover you even in your own home. If you were cleaning it had had a brain fart they might cover that, but not acts of self defense. CYA

 

EDIT: There's one other point I'd like to make, if you don't carry all the time, then think hard. I hear from students, I only carry when I go, or I feel... nope, if that is what you are thinking don't bother. If you want to have it just to have it, that's cool too. Here's the deal, a ton of people think they need one at home, or at work....  If you own the property, you do not need a permit to carry a loaded, or unloaded firearm, either concealed, or open carry. Yes, I can carry open on my own property, or anyone's with their permission. Just an FYI for some of you that may not know this. There are other times as well.... say you are traveling in IL and you book a hotel, without a CCL it can't be loaded in the vehicle, for Il resident, you can FOID carry it to your hotel room and load it up when in the room. It's rather fobar that someone from another state, with a ccl, or even without a permit, and no disqualifiers can have a loaded firearm in the car, but an if you live in the state of Il you can not do the same without a permit. Lovely state.... Not.

 

JQ

 

 

 

 

The other states must have better trainers.

Edited June 4, 2026 at 05:59 PM by Jeffrey

[Vodoun da Vinci]

The biggest drawback to my having an Illinois CCL or even being an Illinois gun owner is that The State has all of my critical information along with signatures, poof of training, instructors names, and likely fingerprints and a whole host of other personal information that I do *not* feel secure with them having. In these days where it seems as if failure of .gov, at the federal and state level, may be a foregone conclusion, I do not feel secure with that .gov knowing all my personal information including the fact that I am trained, armed, in possession, and documented.

 

Our Rights are forfeit and when .gov fails, they'll be on my doorstep with documentation I furnished to them. I, and people like me, will be the first targets. Not good.

 

VooDoo 

[Euler]

The mainland Chinese government already knows all your personal, financial, and medical information already, anyway.

There is no "cloud." There is only someone else's computer ... in China.

On the upside, the Chinese are probably better at protecting your information from falling into North Korean hands.

[SiliconSorcerer]

Another reason I never did fingerprints.

3 months what that after waiting 50 years. 

[ealcala31]

I've been a CDL A Truck Driver for 23yrs, locally. The BAC has changed multiple times for truck drivers, but there is one interesting thing that LE won't tell you, if you blow "hot" in a semi or in your passenger vehicle, you're getting a DUI. I don't care whether its below .04 or not (it used to be .04 in a semi & in a passenger vehicle). We used to have 2 ISP Troopers who would give us a presentation on new IL laws every year. I would ask them if they knew of any cases where a truck driver blew "anything" and was let go without a charge, or fine. They were unaware of any case.

 

As far as CCL, we could always b*tch about the fees and training, but the actual fact of carrying to protect myself, family, and an innocent person being attacked in front of me, there is no downside. Let me correct myself, the downside is the multiple places we must disarm in our daily lives. Some, less than others, but the mere fact that we have to disarm can be the one time that we need our firearm to protect our life, a family members life, or someone under deadly attack. 

[John Q Public]

As an instructor, you have no choice...  You must submit to fingerprinting, well, if you want to be an instructor anyway. Didn't matter for me, as a PD I had to have them for that too and for 4-5 other jobs.

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 6/9/2026 at 9:36 AM, John Q Public said:

As an instructor, you have no choice...  You must submit to fingerprinting, well, if you want to be an instructor anyway. Didn't matter for me, as a PD I had to have them for that too and for 4-5 other jobs.

I had no choice for the Fed, if the state can get them from the fed then they should just do that. 

[John Q Public]

There is bill floating around somewhere to change it, so you don't have to do separate ones, for different things. 

[Euler]

It's already true that if/when a law enforcement agency sends fingerprints to the FBI for a background check, the FBI keeps them forever.

Once upon a time, if/when the military/DoD or DoEd would send fingerprints to the FBI for a background check, the FBI would not keep them. I don't think that's true any more.

In the future, it will probably be cheek swabs.

[Quiet Observer]

On 6/10/2026 at 4:45 PM, Euler said:

It's already true that if/when a law enforcement agency sends fingerprints to the FBI for a background check, the FBI keeps them forever.

Once upon a time, if/when the military/DoD or DoEd would send fingerprints to the FBI for a background check, the FBI would not keep them. I don't think that's true any more.

In the future, it will probably be cheek swabs.

Yes. It is done with prints for employment too. You can request your record.

 

"Fingerprints submitted for employment background checks stay on file with the FBI essentially for life. The FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system retains fingerprints and related biometric data until the individual reaches 110 years of age, or seven years after a confirmed death notification. That means a set of prints you gave for a teaching license at age 25 could still be searchable decades later, even if you left that career entirely." 

 

"You have the right to request a copy of your FBI Identity History Summary, commonly called a “rap sheet.” This document lists information drawn from fingerprint submissions the FBI has retained in connection with arrests, federal employment, naturalization, or military service."

 

How Long Do Fingerprints Stay on File for Jobs: FBI Rules - LegalClarity

 

[Monty80]

Easiest way in the world to avoid a DUI. Don't drink and drive. Not hard at all.