Concealed Carry For Retirees

[cdillon]

Concealed Carry For Retirees
Don Januszyk
At our last general meeting there were several questions relative to the concealed carry and armed security positions for retirees. We took the time to research both and the results are below.
U.S. Senate Bill 218 allows retired U.S. law enforcement officers to carry a concealed weapon when they adhere to the regulations of the state they RESIDE in. In Illinois this is referred to as “IROCC”, Illinois Retired Officer Concealed Carry program. With this program you are NOT AN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, and this program allows you to carry a weapon only for YOUR protection and family. The 720 ILCS 5/7-1 expands this use but at your own liability. You are not allowed to use deadly force if the commission of a forcible felony has ceased. It means you CANNOT shoot a fleeing offender.
If you plan on obtaining this card after you retire it is best to do so as soon as you retiree. The certification of your police employment used to come from the Chicago Pension Board, but now it is issued by the Police Department’s Human Resources Department. We have heard that if you wait an excessive amount of time (a few years) the CPD may give you a hard time. You will need your CPD ID card and FOID card. If you retired with an outstanding CR you will not receive your CPD id card.
Now, if you plan on working at an armed security position there are different rules. The first thing you will need is a copy of your Certification of Completion for Firearm Training provided by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. This is best obtained from the CPD while you are still working. After you retire it is more difficult.
The next thing you will need is an Illinois Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC card) (aka the Blue Card). In order to receive it you will have to be finger printed and you will have to pay for this out of your own pocket 50 to 75 dollars. Agencies will not pay for this because they will lose the money if your print results are bad. The PERC application fee is $55 dollars which most security agencies will pay for when and if your prints clear. You must also have a valid FOID card.
When you have completed the above you will need an Illinois Firearm Authorization Card (aka Tan Card). Here you must take a firearms course, but concluding you are a retired officer you can use the copy of your Certification of Training you obtained from the CPD. Also, what most security agencies will accept is your IROCC card. If you use either of these you must sign a Waiver of Firearm Training Form.
In Illinois you cannot legal work as an armed security guard using your IROCC card, plus you put yourself and your family at a huge liability risk. When you see those signs with a weapon displayed and big red circle with a line through it, well you have to abide by it. There is Illinois and Federal law backing that up, sorry about that. If you are carrying a gun, there are liability riders to protect you, usually available in your home insurance policy or your department or labor organization may have access to one.
Again please remember that the IROCC and the Illinois Concealed Carry law for private citizens are totally different. With IROCC you can carry across the U.S. and if you have an IROCC card you do not need the Illinois Concealed Carry. Also, remember Concealed Carry means CONCEALED, YOU CANNOT SEE IT. Good luck but be safe out there.