For the purposes of §
137-3 et seq., the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them respectively:
AIR RIFLE
Any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, BB gun,
pellet gun, or any implement that is not a firearm, which impels a
pellet constructed of hard plastic, steel, lead, or other hard materials
with a force that reasonably is expected to cause bodily harm.
DEALER
Any person, copartnership, association, or corporation engaged
in the business of selling at retail or renting any of the articles
included in the definition of "air rifle." (720 ILCS 5/24.8-0.1)
[Amended 7-27-2016 by Ord. No. 16-16]
A. It is unlawful for any dealer to sell, lend, rent, give, or otherwise
transfer an air rifle to any person under the age of 13 years where
the dealer knows or has cause to believe the person to be under 13
years of age or where the dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry
relative to the age of the person and the person is under 13 years
of age.
B. It is unlawful for any person to sell, give, lend, or otherwise transfer
any air rifle to any person under 13 years of age except where the
relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward, or adult instructor
and pupil exists between the person and the person under 13 years
of age, or where the person stands in loco parentis to the person
under 13 years of age. (720 ILCS 5/24.8-1)
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, it is lawful
for any person under 13 years of age to have in his possession any
air rifle if it is:
A. Kept within his house of residence or other private enclosure;
B. Used by the person under 13 years of age and he is a duly enrolled
member of any club, team, or society organized for educational purposes
and maintaining as part of its facilities or having written permission
to use an indoor or outdoor rifle range under the supervision, guidance
and instruction of a responsible adult, and then only if the air rifle
is actually being used in connection with the activities of the club,
team, or society under the supervision of a responsible adult; or
C. Used in or on any private grounds or residence under circumstances
when the air rifle is fired, discharged, or operated in a manner as
not to endanger persons or property and then only if it is used in
a manner so as to prevent the projectile from passing over any grounds
or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence. (720 ILCS
5/24.8-3)
The provisions of §§
137-3 through
137-5 do not prohibit sales of air rifles:
A. By wholesale dealers or jobbers;
B. To be shipped out of the state;
C. To be used at a target range operated in accordance with 720 ILCS
5/24.8-2 or by members of the Armed Services of the United States
or veterans' organizations. (720 ILCS 5/24.8-4)
Any police officer shall seize, take, remove, or cause to be
removed, at the expense of the owner, any air rifle sold or used in
any manner in violation of this chapter. (720 ILCS 5/24.8-5)