Why This Question Comes Up Constantly
Hammond, Indiana borders Chicago's southeast side. Our shop is closer to Calumet City than it is to most of Lake County. So it's no surprise that a large share of our inquiries start with: "I live in Illinois — can I buy from you?" The answer is a firm it depends on what you're buying.
Handguns: No — Not Over the Counter, Ever
Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(3)) prohibits a dealer from selling or delivering a handgun to a resident of another state. This is not an Indiana rule or a store policy — it's federal law that applies to every FFL in the country. If an Illinois resident wants a handgun we have in stock, the lawful path is a dealer-to-dealer shipment: we send it to an FFL in Illinois, and you complete the transfer there under Illinois law (FOID card, Illinois waiting period, and all).
Long Guns: Yes — With Conditions
The same federal statute allows a dealer to sell a rifle or shotgun to an out-of-state resident in person, provided the sale complies with the laws of both the seller's state and the buyer's state. For an Illinois buyer at our counter, that means:
- You must present a valid Illinois FOID card — Illinois law requires it for any firearm acquisition by an Illinois resident
- The transaction must satisfy Illinois' waiting period requirements as they apply to the purchase
- The firearm itself must be lawful to possess in Illinois — which matters more than ever given Illinois' assault weapons legislation. A rifle that is perfectly legal in Indiana may be unlawful for you to bring home. That responsibility, and the legal risk, is real.
- All the usual federal steps apply: ATF Form 4473 and a passed NICS check
Ammunition and Accessories
Accessories like holsters, cases, optics, and cleaning gear carry no special restrictions. Ammunition is more nuanced: Illinois requires its residents to hold a FOID card to possess ammunition, so while Indiana imposes no such requirement at the point of sale, Illinois buyers must know and follow their home-state obligations.
Our Policy: Call First
Cross-border sales involve two states' laws plus federal law, and the details shift with legislation and court rulings. Before you drive over, contact us with what you're looking to buy. We'll tell you plainly whether we can do it, what documents you need, and what we can't do — no wasted trips, no gray areas.